Volunteers with Random Acts of Capitola Kindness pose after completing the garden replacement project at Mid-County Senior Center. (Contributed Photo — Gerry Jensen)
CAPITOLA — With so much negativity in the world, it never hurts to perform acts of good whenever possible. A new volunteer group based out of Capitola is aiming to do just that and has already gotten a head start this past weekend.
RACK — an acronym for Random Acts of Capitola Kindness — is a new organization made up of approximately 15 volunteers seeking to support their neighbors by doing landscaping, painting houses and doing just about any philanthropic act that is requested of them. On Saturday, they replaced a fence at the Mid-County Senior Center that had exceeded its life expectancy.
Founding member Gerry Jensen said RACK was formed in the wake of the major winter storms back in January when a group of volunteers pitched in to help clean up some of the debris.
“With all that energy of all the people coming together, there was an idea of ‘How can we continue these neighborhood acts of kindness?’” he said.
Thus, RACK was formed with the goal of finding ways to help others with various projects and solicit requests for projects. The group completed its maiden project this past weekend when it repaired the fence at the Mid-County Senior Center that had not only sustained wind damage during the storm but also was rotting through due to old age. Among those who helped out were City Councilman Joe Clarke and former Mayor Bruce Arthur.
San Lorenzo Lumber and Home Centers sold materials for the project to RACK at a cost, and the work consisted of replacing the wooden fence with a 300 linear-foot galvanized grid fence.
“We thought this was a great kickoff project, working with the center and helping provide fencing for keeping wildlife out of the garden areas,” said Jensen.
Future projects may include anything from landscaping to painting homes to hauling away items to installing Americans with Disability Act-compliant ramps at homes. Jensen said members will also drive around and see what projects need to be done.
“We’re really wide open to what they need,” he said.
Approximately 15 volunteers had signed up in advance of Saturday’s fence upgrade project. Jensen said RACK has a core group of volunteers but is looking to expand it even further. Those interested in assisting may do so through RACK’s website.
Jensen said the organization is all about supporting Capitola.
“Our goal is just to let everybody know that we live in an amazing place and that we’re all in this together and we all care and love for each other,” he said. “We’re all here to support each other.”
For more information, go to Rackcapitola.com/.
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