Summer of Giving
Photos courtesy of Shine City Project
Many young people seize the summer to kick back, relax, and have fun. But for Shine City Project (SCP) members, it’s an opportunity to give back through more volunteering. The Las Vegas-based group of young Unificationists have amped up their efforts to beautify Sin City and help those in need.
In recent weeks, volunteers led by SCP Director Jeffrey Silerio have frequented the Las Vegas Rescue Mission shelter, Clark County Wetlands Park, and Ahern Orchard, to name a few. Just a mile away from the bustling downtown casinos, Ahern Orchard was once land that belonged to the city’s earliest Korean immigrants.
“In the 1930s and 40s, Korean immigrant Frank Kim and his hispanic wife, Juanita Sanchez, owned and operated what was called the Kim Produce Farm,” Silerio says. “On their 20-acre farm, from the poor desert soil, they were able to successfully grow melons, tomatoes, and onions that supported the local community.”
The family farm was eventually passed down to the couple’s son before it was turned into a community garden in 2016. Today, more than 3,200 plants and fruit trees cover some 10 acres, producing everything from peaches, apples, and pears, to figs, pomegranates, grapes, and a range of hybrid fruits such as pluots, plumcots, and apriums. It takes the support of volunteers, like SCP, to sustain the garden — and the impact is tremendous.
“All fruits that are grown at Ahern Orchard are donated to local organizations and charities supporting food-insecure families and individuals in Las Vegas,” says Silerio, whose team of 11 people thinned several rows of apricot trees. He says thinning trees improves sun and air circulation, prevents limb damage from excess weight, and keeps fruit from dropping to the ground prematurely.
At Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary, SCP volunteers spent hours clearing away swaths of bamboo from the property, which is home to more than 150 animals including parrots, chickens, goats, and pigs, as well as turkeys and tortoises.
“Our eight volunteers were able to clear away bamboo from an area measuring about six feet by 30 feet,” shares Silerio. “Even though it was tiring ... overall we had a good time and it was nice to see everyone working together.”
Other service projects from the dedicated group — which has upwards of 20 members — include picking up litter from various parks, trails, and nature spaces in and around the city. The team filled a large dumpster with trash at Wetlands Park on one occasion, then planted some 3,000 native shrubs and grasses during their return visit.
“We had 18 volunteers representing the Shine City Project, including some families,” recalls Silerio. “It was a great experience for everyone.”
And with several weeks left of summer, he says the group has no intention of slowing down. “True Parents taught us to give and forget what we have given,” says Silerio. “We want to be an example of that in all that we do.”
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