Residents, volunteers and city officials gather for 14th annual Menifee Better Together volunteer day

Dozens of volunteers, community groups and city officials took part in the 14th annual Menifee Better Together volunteer day, pitching in on mulch replacement, painting flower pots for seniors and collecting bulky items to combat illegal dumping.

The morning started with volunteers at Lazy Creek Park, where Councilmember Ben and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Carwin joined neighbors for tasks the speakers described as essential to caring for long-standing community assets such as the park's sand volleyball court and exercise track. “It’s one of my favorite days of the year, giving back to the community,” Ben said.

Organizer Lisa Sobec, whom the host introduced as the founder of Menifee Better Together, said the effort began after the 2008 recession when faith groups and Habitat for Humanity collaborated to meet community needs. Sobec said she worked with then–City Manager Rob Johnson to formalize the project as an annual citywide service day. “We saw such a need in the Sun City community of Menifee — so many seniors that needed a hand up — and we made it an annual project,” Sobec said.

At Kisner Narrows Community Center, volunteers painted and decorated flower pots that will be delivered to 38 seniors identified by local partners. The activity included Girl Scouts, Brownies, veterans and other community groups. Volunteer Eugene Pearson, a former Navy aviation boatswain’s mate, said, “I just enjoy helping people.”

Pastor Sharp, whose Leadership Ministries donated pots and soil through a nonprofit partnership, described annual support for the event. “This is our community and I love our community,” he said, noting the group’s recurring contribution.

Organizers also ran a bulky-item pickup at Caven Park, a service intended to reduce illegal dumping by giving residents a place to drop off appliances, furniture and other large items. The host reported the site processed over 60 cars during the day.

The event’s hosts and volunteers emphasized turnout from across neighboring cities as an indicator of the program’s reach: multiple stops drew participants from outside Menifee to help revitalize parks and assist seniors. Participants and organizers said they plan to hold the volunteer day again next year.

The day concluded with a barbecue and a closing reflection from the hosts and volunteers; there were no formal motions, votes or policy decisions recorded during the event.