"This is such a great tradition, and is successful every year because of you all," said Spencer Moser, the director of of service programs and activities at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.  

 

The event kicked off around 9 a.m. with a breakfast and a ceremony at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' Church Street Center before groups of students from the college and high school, youth sports, community members and others were sent out to participate in various projects, including cleaning up Hillside Cemetery and Ashland Street, and working on community gardens.

 

Moser stressed that the bond of the community and the college is one of the most important aspects of this event, which Mayor Richard Alcombright also highlighted in his opening remarks.

 

"This is a day where I'm truly just happy, this is a happy, happy day," Alcombright said. "It's just great to see us all come together, the college community coming together, our high school community come together for one common goal, and that is to do community projects, to support the community that we all live in."

 

State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi suggested for students involved now to encourage others to spread the spirit of community service here and back at their hometowns.

 

"Let them know what you did today, perhaps they'll join next year, join in their own communites doing this," Cariddi said. "And when you go back home please think of days like today and do this kind of work in your own community, it's the best kind of work you can do for your community."

 

After roughly three hours of service, volunteers were invited to attend Eagle Street Rising, a Building A Better Block project done by MCLA students involved in the Green Living Seminar course.

 

Eagle Street was closed to traffic prior to the event as volunteers created pallet benches, plant displays and set up outside seating to local restaurants, including Desporados, which prompted post-volunteer afternoon margaritas on a picture-perfect spring day.