Shine City Project Report (2/15/20)

[Ken Doo]

Shine City Project

Las Vegas Wash Trail

February 15, 2020

On February 15, 2020, Shine City Project teamed up with Get Outdoors Nevada for a cleanup at the Las Vegas Wash Regional Trail! The Las Vegas Wash Trail is a 14-mile  trail that runs alongside the Las Vegas Wash, a channel that carries excess water away from the city to Lake Mead. The trail is perfect for pedestrians and bicyclists who want to avoid the many busy roadways of North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, and other parts of Clark County.

The day was shining, and our Shine City Project volunteers were ready to make things brighter at the Las Vegas Wash Trail! However, just as we were starting, Get Outdoors Nevada gathered back all of our Shine City Project volunteers to present us the President's Volunteer Service Award! The President's Volunteer Service Award is a prestigious award honoring outstanding individuals and groups for their hours of selfless dedication and volunteer service to their local communities. Established in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the award is bestowed to volunteers in our nation by the President of the United States. In 2019, Shine City Project was able to contribute enough hours to earn the President's Volunteer Service Award at the bronze level!

After receiving the award, our volunteers were able to continue on the service project with renewed energy and determination. Shine City Project had thirteen volunteers, including one volunteer who was joining us for the first time! Additionally, we were joined by one of our founding members of Shine City Project, Takahiro Yasui, and his sons! Shine City Project was started in March 2013 by Yasui-san and other local community members and missionaries who were in Las Vegas at the time.

We tidied up the nearby local park and playground, and afterwards we moved on to the main trail. There was plenty of trash along the trail, and we were able to fill bags with the trash that we found. After a couple hours, with the combined efforts of Shine City Project and other volunteers and organizations who were present, we were all able to fill seventeen bags and three shopping carts with trash! The day after Valentine's Day, the service project was a great way to give love back to our community!