Hundreds of volunteers branch out, beautify Milpitas schools on Earth Day

​Hundreds of volunteers spent their time throughout Milpitas and many of its school campuses to beautify the area on Earth Day, April 22. 

Among the activities were Milpitas Cares' projects, including one at Alexander Rose Elementary School. Principal Nanci Pass said their project, sponsored by Chris Community Church, brought in 20 people who focused on cleaning out the garden and preparing it for spring planting. Other tasks included counting out snacks for Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) testing, cleaning Chromebooks, and cleaning areas on campus.

Milpitas Cares' volunteers alongside students from Milpitas High School also spent their time at Joseph Weller Elementary School to clean up and organize recess and physical education equipment, according to Principal Alicia Padilla. 

At Milpitas High School, more than 370 volunteers participated in Comcast Cares Day, the company's annual day of service, when Comcast employees, families, and friends partner with local schools and organizations nationwide on projects that benefit the communities where they live and work. The event was held in partnership with Milpitas Cares. 

And Our City Forest, along with the support of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and California Releaf, planted 20 trees at John Sinnott Elementary School in addition to six trees and more than 30 shrubs at Rancho Milpitas Middle School, with lots of new mulch, according to Rancho Principal Casey McMurray.