MONT ALTO, Pa. — Penn State Mont Alto held its annual Day of Service/Every Day is Arbor Day event on Wednesday, April 12. More than 100 faculty, staff and students gathered bags of leaves/debris, picked up downed branches, raked mulch, pulled weeds and ivy, and planted a variety of trees and flowers. 

Day of Service was combined with Capital Day by getting people to sign up to advocate for Penn State and support fairer funding for Penn State students. Many items also were donated to support several area organizations, including animal shelters, health centers, nursing homes and veterans. 

Teamwork could be seen across campus, as dedication and love for Penn State Mont Alto was on full display. 

“On behalf of the maintenance and operations staff, we would like to thank all the volunteers that showed up for Mont Alto Day of Service to provide their time and labor to beautify the campus. It was a beautiful day to be outside and we were appreciative of all the extra help on the work that was accomplished. The campus landscape is something I think we all take pride in, and it was great to see the enthusiasm the volunteers brought. We have a very dedicated staff, and we are currently very shorthanded. Thanks to the volunteers who helped underwrite several days of work in a short amount of time,” said Brad Kendall, supervisor of maintenance and operations.

Here is a summary of everything that was accomplished:  

• More than 30 bags of debris/leaves were removed from the beds around sweetgum trees and the amphitheatre (all will be composted).  
• Eight yards of wood chips were spread around the 9/11 Garden by student volunteers.  
• Ten bags of non-flowering creeping ivy were removed from the 9/11 Garden and replaced with pollinator plants, including sunflowers, coneflowers, forget-me-nots, heather, a flowering almond tree, and a wildflower seed mix distributed across the area. 
• Beds along the quad area were hand-weeded.  
• One truckload of wood/sticks was gathered from Police Services. 
• 400 seedlings were planted along the West Branch of Antietam Creek along campus. 
• Three large seed-producing bee-bee trees and more than 100 small invasive trees were removed and their stumps were treated with herbicides to prevent re-sprouting.  
• Three dead trees were removed from areas with high pedestrian traffic. 
• An estimated $10,000 in tree care services were provided across the Arboretum by Bartlett Tree Experts and Cumberland Valley Tree Service. 
• 120 military appreciation cards were created, to be distributed by Franklin County Veterans Affairs. 
• 24 first aid kits will be donated to the Waynesboro Community Health Center.
• 26 period positivity kits/baskets were made and distributed to all campus restrooms.  
• 137 items were collected/organized to distribute to Quincy Village and Paramount Senior Living.  
• More than 75 tug toys will be donated to local animal shelters. 
• Student, staff and faculty signatures were collected for Capital Day. 

Thanks to Bartlett Tree Experts, Cumberland Valley Tree Service and First Energy for contributing their time, expertise and equipment to accomplish several major projects on campus.