Volunteers Make 'Menifee Better Together' a Success

Volunteers paint a house in the Sun City community as part of Saturday's "Menifee Better Together" project.

More than 300 volunteers from area churches and other service organizations came out in force on Saturday to provide home clean-up assistance to those in need.

The third annual event is sponsored by Habit for Humanity Inland Valley in collaboration with the City of Menifee, the Sun City Civic Association and Verison FIOS. Volunteers performed exterior home repairs such as house painting, weed abatement and window cleaning for seniors in the Sun City area. Other volunteers performed community clean-up in Quail Valley.

More than 30 homes in Sun City were visited by volunteers. Many were volunteer groups representing local churches, including the Menifee Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church; United Church of Christ; and Hope Christian Church.

Andy Santos and her husband Jim were team leaders of a group from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church that performed work at two homes on Amersfoot Way.

"We are doing painting and landscaping," Andy Santos said. "This is our second year for this event. We are happy to help others in our community."

Verizon FIOS presented project leaders with a $2,500 donation to help complete the project. City Council members John Denver and Greg August joined Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley in touring the sites, as well as members of the Menifee Stake of the LDS Church: President Michael Gray and counselors Todd Elkins and Jerhi Wilcox.

From left: LDS Church Menifee Stake presidency members Todd Elkins, Michael Gray and Jerhi Wilcox work on landscaping a house. At the right is City Council member Greg August.

Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley talks with a homeowner during the Menifee Better Together event.

Members of a large volunteer group from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church pause for a photo.