Neighbor to Neighbor volunteers ready to set out to work in three yards Saturday morning, from left, Carolynn Roberts, Gerrick Jones, Becca Jones, Tyler Jones, Sophia Jones, Helen Melinski and Scott Milenski. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
A few weeks ago, Los Alamos resident Becca Jones began reading on social media about the notices of violations to the Los Alamos Municipal Code that neighbors were receiving for their yards from the Code Enforcement Division of the County’s Community Development Department.
“There are so many sides to this issue that they are difficult to decipher. I know that for me, the one thing I have gotten out of it is that there has to be a way for us to help each other,” she said. “There are many of us in need and there are many of us who can offer to help.”
Jones invited people willing to help and people needing help to contact her and set a date for the first group volunteer clean-up today.
“This undertaking is strictly on a volunteer basis. We are not affiliated with any organization. We are just a bunch of community members hoping to help other community members out,” Jones said.
She said one of her friends from high school who no longer lives in Los Alamos has been observing the Code Enforcement issue and was the spark behind the group.
“We can all agree, I think, that we want our neighborhoods to be welcoming places where our kids can play, where people can walk their pets, and where we can enjoy the majority of the scenery,” Jones said. “There are a myriad of reasons why someone might have let their home or yard go. Many hands make light work. Let’s just get together and help our neighbors.”
She said she received many calls and set up a work party for two elderly people who needed help with their yards and another elderly person living with her daughter who also needed assistance. The group met at 9 a.m. at Sullivan Field and headed out to their work destinations.
Los Alamos County Councilor Antonio Maggiore and resident Andrea Pistone each donated four of their Eco-center allowed loads to the group for brush and other materials removed from yards throughout the day.
For more information, contact Jones at 505.695.9196.
