Colorado Cares Day Service Project

On Saturday, July 31st, over 220 volunteers joined forces to pull weeds and pick up trash around the Metzger Farm and to help organize items at the Broomfield Veterans Museum. The projects were organized by Westminster Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and coordinated with the joint cooperation of the City and County of Broomfield and the City of Westminster. The undertaking was one of several projects in support of the annual Colorado Cares Day.

The event began with a welcome from Stake President Larry Hickman (a stake is a geographical unit of the church that includes several smaller or ward units) and the presentation of the flag by Boy Scout Troop 425. Toya Nelson, who is the Executive Director of the Governor's Commission on Community Service, thanked the group for their support of Colorado Cares Day, their volunteerism, and service. She also expressed appreciation for the church as one of the largest organizers of these projects year after year. Mayor Nancy McNally of Westminster then spoke about the bi-city cooperation on the Metzger Farm project and thanked the group for their work that is also a financial benefit to the cities. Karen and Bill Metzger, who grew up on the farm, shared a few of their memories about the farm and expressed their appreciation that it was being preserved. Finally, Michelle Pearson from the Broomfield Veterans Museum and Kristan Pritz who is the director of Broomfield Open Spaces, spoke about their projects and expressed appreciation for the group's assistance.

A large group of volunteers, wearing yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" vests, went to the Metzger farm, located on the corner of 120th and Lowell Boulevard, where they were divided into several groups and assigned to tasks in different areas of the farm. While some of the groups pulled noxious weeds around the two ponds on the acreage as well as low-lying areas, others walked the perimeter of the 150 acre property picking up trash. Another group collected and piled up dead branches along the drive leading into the buildings. With the warm weather and sunshine, all the workers were appreciative of the bottled water donated by the new Wal-mart store on 120th Avenue.

Those who volunteered at the Broomfield Veterans Museum were treated to a tour of the facility and then separated into various groups. One group organized and archived various items donated by service men and women.  Another group helped improve the displays while a third group entered data into the computer for future referencing. In addition, a fourth group helped organize the facility's storage area.

The project was also supported by the Church’s emergency response HAM operators who set up a network and coordinated volunteer assignments and any emergency needs.

Colorado Cares Day is a statewide day of service in honor of Colorado’s statehood on August 1, 1876. The 2010 event is the 12^th Annual Colorado Cares Day. The project is sponsored by the Governor’s Commission on Community Service to promote increased volunteerism and community service throughout Colorado.

The event was sponsored by the Church to support the goals of Colorado Cares Day, give service to the community, and provide the opportunity for members and friends to offer altruistic service to others, as Jesus Christ did.

The former Metzger Farm property was cooperatively purchased by the City and County of Broomfield and the City of Westminster. The city councils have adopted a joint master plan for the area that includes a parking area, trails, sidewalks and a bridge across the upper pond to provide increased accessibility to the large open space.

The Broomfield Veterans Memorial Museum is located at 12 Garden Center. Its displays contain information about military campaigns from the Civil War to modern day with memorabilia from and about Broomfield residents. 

All photos courtesy of briancphoto.com