Saginaw Volunteers Transform Yards in 13th Year of Service

Ronald McCatherine stood in his front yard watching something beautiful unfold. Volunteers were clearing years of overgrowth, uncovering forgotten treasures, and transforming the outdoor space he could no longer maintain alone.

"Oh, man, it kind of exploded a little bit," McCatherine said. "I'm like, oh, thank you, god."

McCatherine is one of several Saginaw, Michigan residents receiving help this week through One Week One Street, a neighborhood improvement program now celebrating its 13th year. Volunteers are spending the week revitalizing homes along Maplewood, Hazelwood, and Collingwood avenues.

For McCatherine, the help came at exactly the right time. "As I get older, you know, I can't do all this, and I got lots of trees and stuff that I can't take care of myself," he said.

Pat McIlvenna, one of the volunteers clearing McCatherine's yard, has returned to the program for several years. He and other volunteers spent the day removing vegetation and overgrowth, while another volunteer power washed the deck.

Later in the week, they plan to give McCatherine's home a fresh coat of paint. "The same color I got right now. Oh my god I can't wait. I really can't wait," McCatherine said.

Why This Inspires

For McIlvenna, who works at a hospital system in Midland, the program offers something his day job can't. "You go through a work day and you work for a company, and I do a lot of good work there, but it's hard when you don't see the immediate impacts," he explained.

"But when you come to a place like this, you can see the immediate things and the smiles on the faces from the people down here." The gratitude from residents like McCatherine makes every hour of volunteer work meaningful.

McCatherine said the volunteers' enthusiasm is contagious. "I see them all over the place, and they just got enthusiasm," he said.

One Week One Street continues through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and organizers are still welcoming new volunteers ready to make an immediate difference in their community.