The city-wide community service event known as “Love Turlock” is back this month for its 13th edition, and it is expected to be the biggest event yet.

This year, Love Turlock will be held on April 27. There are currently 32 volunteering opportunities for individuals and groups to take part in around town, a significant increase from 20 last year and 27 in 2022. The goal of Love Turlock is to inspire the community to love each other through connecting and participating in service projects around town. 

Like in previous years, Love Turlock festivities will kick off at Donnelly Park at 8 a.m. After opening remarks from community organizers and city officials, volunteers will disperse across town to participate in any projects they signed up for on the Love Turlock website. Once the projects wrap up at around noon, participants will reconvene at Donnelly Park for an appreciation lunch courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock.

There will be projects available for all skill sets, ages and abilities.

Of the 32 projects and volunteer opportunities listed on the event website, 12 are filled. They include helping at the Turlock Community Gardens, mowing lawns, creating appreciation letters for first responders, the beautification of facilities at Turlock High School and Julien, Crowell and Dutcher schools and even the construction of a chicken coup at Fusion Charter. 

Projects still in need of helpers include a beautification of Dennis Earl Elementary, building a storage shed for the We Care shelter program, window cleaning at Prodigal Sons and Daughters, building a playset for the Turlock Gospel Mission, putting together toiletry kits for military members and the United Samaritans Foundation, picking up litter and painting over graffiti and faded sidewalks at Donnelly Park.

The past two years, each Love Turlock event averaged almost 500 volunteers. 

A full list of projects to sign up for and forms to submit additional project suggestions can be found at www.LoveTurlock.com.