Volunteers needed for Make a Difference Day

Volunteers on Saturday will plant 10,000 trees in Leverich Park near Interstate 5, haul away 30 tons of garbage and debris from Fourth Plain Village and start a new community garden in Bagley Downs.

In return, they’ll get the thanks of a grateful community — and their choice of pancakes or cereal.

Vancouver’s third annual Make a Difference Day will get under way with a volunteer breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at Leverich Park. The nonprofit Vancouver Watershed Council and Americans Building Community will organize volunteers.

The tree planting event will occur along Burnt Bridge Creek on the west side of Leverich Park, where city workers recently removed thick brambles of invasive blackberries.

“Where the stream flows out of Leverich Park and north, literally against I-5, has been completely choked with blackberries for several years,” said Gary Bock, director of the watersheds council. “It’s time to get the real plants in.”

By “real,” he means native trees and shrubs that will establish themselves in lieu of blackberries.

Pre-registration is recommended by calling Bock at 360-852-9189, or Stephanie Hadley of MacKay & Sposito Inc. at 360-823-1322.