Jennifer Dandron | The Valdosta Daily TimesAshley Mock, Merry Marketplace co-chair for the organization, participated in a road-side cleanup as part of the Valdosta Junior Service League’s inaugural Helping Hands Day Saturday morning. 

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Junior Service League kicked off the inaugural “Helping Hands Day” during the weekend. 

More than 100 members were dispersed throughout the community, ready to put the service in the Junior Service League Saturday morning.

The women volunteered at a dozen locations, said League President Casey Langdale.

“We’re doing hands-on service at all 12 agencies,” she said. “We’re painting, organizing, planning and cleaning.” 

More than 3,350 people were directly impacted by the effort, Langdale said. The group also collected 35 bags of trash and 20 tires for Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful. 

The league determined locations via an application for non-profit organizations.

“This year, we were able to do every agency that applied, but we were able to do that with the manpower that we had,” Langdale said. “It’s according to what type of projects, what type of budget we have. Several businesses in town partnered with us to donate supplies.”

The locations included Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta, Children’s Advocacy Center, The Haven, The Food Bank, Girls on the Run, House of Hope, LARC and LAMP.

Ashley Mock, Merry Marketplace co-chair for the organization, participated in a road-side cleanup as part of Helping Hands Day.

“We started at the City Hall Annex building and we’re working our way to the Habitat house,” she said. “This is an awesome experience. It’s good being able to get out with the ladies that we see on a monthly basis at our meetings, but it’s good to get out and do something for the community. “

While this is the first year for the event which took nearly an entire year to plan, Langdale said she hopes it will become an annual part of the League’s service and expand to help even more organizations.

“This is a good way to show we have a heart of service and value our community,” she said. “This is our way of giving back to the community we are a part of. It is amazing what women can do when we all come together. We can make a huge difference.” 

Jennifer Dandron is a Reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1255.