Volunteer Day at the Tonto!

I recently hosted an exciting and well-attended volunteer event at the Meridian Trail located on the Southeastern border of the Tonto National Forest and Usery Regional Park in Mesa, Arizona. Forty-four volunteers worked Friday and Saturday, January 23rd & 24th, to help level out the trail and remove deeply embedded rocks. It was a pleasure to meet such a diverse group of people as they came together to accomplish this task.

Most inspiring were two different groups of volunteers. Due to the fact that their father is wheelchair bound, a family came along to work at making the trail more accessible so that they can participate in future hikes together.
In addition a husband and wife team were there – the wife to help clear the trail of debris to make it easier for her husband (on crutches because his feet and thighs are paralyzed) to more easily navigate the trail.

I was also impressed with the quality and quantity of work produced by the volunteers. This project was no easy task, as we used picks and shovels to remove the rocks, some of which were 500 pound boulders! There was not a frown or complaint from anyone. From the youngest of Girl and Boy Scouts, National Honor Society recipients, the Mesquite High Ecology Club, families looking for a fun day together, to retirees, each came to make a difference in the community and enjoy a sunny day outside.

Jean Hickman
Community Outreach VISTA