Organizers say turnout for Ruskin Memorial Park cleanup ‘best yet’
By LOIS KINDLE
Forty-five area residents spent the morning of Nov. 16 respecting those who have passed by cleaning their gravesites.
BLANCA PARKER PHOTO
This group of volunteers pose for a photo at the recent Ruskin Memorial Park cleanup: from left are Gizel Copeland, Kaylani Marrero and Logan Copeland of Bell Creek Academy; Cynthia Augustin; Jessica Marrero; and Alondra Vazquez, of Hillsborough High School. Missing but also there are Nijah Pagan, of Beth Shields Middle School and Jaray Marrero, of Bell Creek Academy.
Weeding, trimming, mowing and picking up all forms of trash and debris, participants in the latest quarterly cleanup of the Ruskin Memorial Park cemetery gave up their Saturday morning to do some community service.
The event was organized by the Ruskin Memorial Park board and coordinated by one of its officers, Suzi Bredbenner. “The board decided in January to do quarterly cleanups, and this was by far the best ever,” she said. “We truly appreciate everyone who came out.”
Bredbenner noted the effort included many teen volunteers working to earn community service hours, and families with relatives or friends buried in the cemetery were also among those who participated.
Roxanne Sanchez, of Ruskin, brought along her sons Davian, 9, and Adrian, 8. “I’m teaching them about community service,” she said, as she showed them how to pull weeds away from the park’s west wall. “We have many relatives here, and we come quite often.”
About 18 months ago the Ruskin Memorial Park board took over maintenance of the cemetery from the Ruskin Woman’s Club, which had handled the cleanups on an annual basis for years.
BLANCA PARKER PHOTO
Danny Strickland trims grass away from grave markers at Ruskin Memorial Park, while his little granddaughter brushes them clean.
In January, the following new board members were installed: Annie Rodriguez, Julissa Huerta, Danny Strickland, Travis Combs and Lydia Ramos. Its officers are Tom Pyché, president; Bredbenner, treasurer, and Sandy Council, secretary.
Ruskin Memorial Park Cemetery, formerly known as the Ruskin Cemetery, was founded in 1908. It receives no government funding and depends solely on volunteers and private donations, which are tax-deductible.
Checks to the 501(c)13 nonprofit organization should be made payable to the Ruskin Memorial Park Cemetery and mailed to Ruskin Memorial Park, P.O. Box 392, Ruskin 33575.
For additional information or to volunteer, email ofc@ruskinmemorialpark.org or visit www.ruskinmemorialpark.org.
BLANCA PARKER PHOTO
Julissa Huerta, a Ruskin Memorial Park board member, finishes cleaning up an area of headstones during the Nov. 16 cleanup.
BLANCA PARKER PHOTO
This trio of teens from Lennard High School stand in front of a truck full of trash they helped pick up to earn community service hours at Ruskin Memorial Park.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Naomi Gomez signs up her family to volunteer for the Nov. 16 Ruskin Memorial Park Cemetery cleanup, while her son, 8-year-old Gabriel, looks on. Missing from the photo are sons Gavin, 3, and Domingo, 16.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Lydia Ramos, of Wimauma, right, and her niece Gabby Rodriquez show a bag filled with trash and debris they picked up at the recent Ruskin Memorial Park Cemetery cleanup. They have relatives buried there.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Roxanne Sanchez, of Ruskin, and her sons Davian, 9, and Adrian, 8, pull weeds away from the west wall at the Ruskin Memorial Park Cemetery during a community cleanup Nov. 16. She brought them to teach them about community service.
