The Mendon Senior Center grounds were recently spruced up by dedicated Grafton Job Corp. members and their supervisor Marty Yenawine. The crew was joined by first-time senior center volunteer Mark Cleverdon. 

This annual Earth Day project, sponsored by the Friends of Mendon Elders, featured a general spring clean-up including raking, edging and mulching the many beds and gardens at the senior center.  

The day also included a pizza and salad luncheon for the workers. In addition to lunch, the Friends also funded the bark mulch and soon-to-be planted flowers to fill the window boxes. 

Mendon COA Director Amy Wilson Kent says the senior center has been collaborating with Grafton Job Corp. for several years on the spring clean-up as an Earth Day event. 

“We usually have two to three senior volunteers working alongside them and their supervisor Marty Yenawine although this year we only had one, our newest volunteer Mark Cleverdon, who was absolutely amazing working with the young adults.  Mark returned the following Monday to finish up a few projects we didn’t get to.  He and the rest of the Beautification crew – Ann and John Vandersluis, Eldon Swanson, John Palumbo, Tom Sawyer, Kathy Staniszewski and Sheela Jai - work together and independently to make the senior center property stand out,” said Kent.

If anyone enjoys working outdoors and would like to join the team of senior volunteers in offering a couple hours a month to beautify the Mendon Senior Center grounds, please contact Director Amy Wilson Kent at 508-478-6175.