CORVALLIS, Ore. - Don't be alarmed if you're out and about early Saturday and come upon a large group of people in orange and black, wielding shovels, pitchforks and other sharp and not-so-sharp implements. They will have come in peace to spruce up your community.

The morning of May 21 marks the third annual Oregon State University Community Day of Service. At 22 locations in five states, OSU alumni and friends will gather to spend a few hours restoring natural areas, rehabilitating neglected city parks, making a streambed more friendly for native species, sorting donations at food banks, painting an information center and completing myriad other tasks.

The growing event is sponsored by the OSU Alumni Association in an effort to help Beavers everywhere celebrate the good deeds and community service so many of them perform all the time in their hometowns, and to honor the essential spirit of OSU's land grant heritage.

"At Oregon State, we inspire our students to make the world a better place," said Christi Kasten, a 1986 graduate and interim director of the association. "Every day our students and alumni are in service to their communities around the world. On May 21 we get to do it together. That's pretty special and a lot of fun."

Oregon events are scheduled for Albany; Ashland; two sites in Corvallis; Dallas; Eugene; Medford; Newport; four sites in Portland; Prineville; Stayton and Vale. Other events are set for Honolulu; Meridian, Idaho; San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; and three sites in Seattle.

Details on each are available at www.osualum.com/service. Signups are still welcome at many sites, while others have already reached capacity.

Source: 

Christi Kasten, 541-737-7857

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