“Love Ceres,” the faith-based organization of work projects, is set for this Saturday, April 26 and it isn’t too late to volunteer for a number of work projects.

One project has already occurred when owners of classic, lowrider or hot rod cars led by Nasson and Sonia Sanchez cruised to the homes of persons in Ceres to give encouragement in facing their struggles as cancer patients and those who recently became widowed or lost a young child. Car drivers visited for 15-20 minutes before continuing to the next destination. 

Brandy and Keith Meyer are once again spearheading the event which is designed to help others and tidy up the appearance of Ceres.

The event will start with volunteers gathering at Whitmore Park at 8 a.m. for a free breakfast burrito courtesy of the Ceres Lions Club, short rally and receive instructions on where to report for acts of love to the community. The Ceres Rotary Club has offered to provide lunch for volunteers who return to the park.

Project work will begin at 9 a.m. at designated locations. Currently there are eight projects but the committee hopes to add two to four more projects to the list. Confirmed projects with leaders include:

• Greeters at the Love Ceres gathering point;

• Writing cards of care for military veterans;

• Replacing worn American flags with new ones for various residents (donations are requested for flags);

• Picking up trash in downtown Ceres;

• Cleaning up various Ceres parks, including Strawberry, Persephone and Guillermo Ochoa Park;

• Performing yard work for seniors and shut-ins;

• Washing the vehicles of ambulances and other first responder vehicles at the downtown Ceres fire station;

• Adding mulch to the flowerbeds at the Ceres Department of Public Safety (just in time for the Ceres Street Faire the following weekend);

• Photographers to capture the work being done at the various sites.

“The biggest project we’re looking at is the yard work for seniors because that was a huge hit last year,” said Brandy Meyer. “We did a few of them last year and I had someone who called me in tears because she didn’t know how she was going to get her yard work done and she was so grateful.”

The committee is looking for 50 volunteers to cut grass, pull weeds and any clean up needed in seniors’ yards. Meyer said the effort will soon be made on which homes to perform the work.

Another popular work project is the vehicle washing. It allows the public to become acquainted with first-responders and police who serve Ceres.

Volunteers may sign up for work projects at the Love Ceres website (www.loveceres.com). Anyone with questions may email Brandy Meyer at meyercprandfa@aol.com. Those who pre-register can get a free Love Ceres T-shirt, otherwise they are $5.

She also is inviting non-profit or other groups to set up tables or booths to hand out information. Texas Roadhouse, Turlock Irrigation District and several churches are among those expected to have a booth. A DJ will play music at the kickoff event in Whitmore Park. Other activities will include face painting and corn hole.

Last year approximately 220 volunteers showed up for work projects in Ceres.

Love Modesto was inspired by Jeff Pichney of Big Valley Grace and spread to Ceres in 2011 partially through the efforts of Bryan and Becki Nicholes. Since that time the event has spread to the communities of Keyes, Hughson, Oakdale, Valley Home, Riverbank, Salida, Empire, Waterford, Denair, Turlock, Grayson, Westley and Patterson.