My Hometown Ogden project beautifies neighborhoods, builds relationships through community service
OGDEN — More than 1,000 volunteers gathered Saturday morning to serve the community as part of the My Hometown Ogden initiative, a joint effort of Ogden City, local churches and other organizations with a vision to beautify local properties while spreading kindness to residents.
Volunteers completed various tasks throughout the city, including picking up debris, painting, fixing fences, planting trees and building wheelchair ramps.
Saturday marked the city’s fourth service day of the year, with 4,800 volunteers working 9,900 hours of service helping 287 homeowners.
Block captains helped survey home exteriors, asking owners about any work outside of the home they need help with, as they do not assist with inside needs.
Ogden City Marketing and Communications Manager Mike McBride said homeowners and neighbors have been coming out to help and engage with volunteers, not realizing the point of the initiative is to elevate civility, community participation, safety and health protocols, and foster love for each other.
“The hope of the whole project is giving a hand up not a hand out,” McBride said.
While supported by Ogden City administration and staff, funding for the My Hometown service projects is provided by private donors.
The initiative, new to both Ogden and Provo this year, is based on a similar hometown service project in West Valley City established in 2019.
Of the many local churches participating in hometown initiatives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is said to be the largest organization bringing the most volunteers; however, it is not a single faith-based initiative.
McBride said Ogden is fortunate to have a passionate group of people to provide service to members of the community who need it.
“It’s incredible because you will have 25 to 30 people in one yard and within an hour it’s night and day,” he said.
Saturday’s service project was unique due to the 9/11 National Day of Service on Sunday. In addition to servicing 55 homes around Lester Park, Liberty Park, High Adventure Park and 770 15th St., volunteers were cleaning up the Ogden River between the bridge on Gramercy Avenue and Monroe Boulevard.
The last My Hometown Ogden service day this year is scheduled for Oct. 22, and while volunteers plan to be of service to homeowners in other neighborhoods throughout the city, they will end 2022 focusing on the same areas.
“There is such a need and we’ve been able to help so many people,” McBride said.
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- Volunteers for the My Hometown Ogden initiative are pictured doing service work at an Ogden home on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- Volunteers for the My Hometown Ogden initiative are pictured doing service work at an Ogden home on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- A volunteer for the My Hometown Ogden initiative is pictured along the Ogden River on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- Volunteers for the My Hometown Ogden initiative are pictured doing service work along the Ogden River on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- Volunteers for the My Hometown Ogden initiative are pictured doing service work at an Ogden home on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- A volunteer for the My Hometown Ogden initiative is pictured along the Ogden River on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
