Learning about Turn Back the Block last month led me into another opportunity to highlight an organization designed to unify communities and revitalize neighborhoods across the CSRA and nationwide.
I participated in a CityServe clean-up day on Oct. 9 in partnership with Turn Back the Block. It was a joy to see folks step out of their homes all up and down the street to give of their time and energy for the simple purpose of beautifying the area around them.
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The site I visited was at 2016 Battle Row, a plot of green space in Harrisburg that always was home to a few 19th century graves. The area was overgrown and had downed trees and limbs hanging over the fence line, so I joined several folks of all ages who showed up and got to work.
My dad is in landscaping, and I’ve done that kind of work all my life, so I was back in my element clearing the fence line of vines and dead limbs. Participants needed no prior expertise to make an impact; every pair of hands was put to work , and it’s amazing what we got done in just one morning.
Shawn Rhodes of the Richmond County Marshal’s Office said, “CityServe is the community, the city and religious organizations getting together to do good for the area. CityServe was started by a church and First Presbyterian is the church that’s sort of the home base for this locally. But it’s a nation-wide organization. It’s been wonderful and so fun.”
The Marshal’s Office has been instrumental in recruiting and building partnerships with local groups, according to Turn Back the Block director Ashley Brown.
“They really backed this, and they also help with some of our events and just act as a positive face for the area,” Brown said.
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Representatives from the Marshal’s Office held a clean-up of their own on Oct. 9 at Rollersville Cemetery on Hicks Street, just steps from Battle Row.
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Rhodes said getting people out and working together has been enriching for both the organizers and the participants.
“It’s great for the whole community to work together,” Rhodes said. “I probably had 25 kids from Crawford Avenue Baptist Church out there at my site. It was great.”
Rhodes said being involved with the project has opened her eyes to the history of Augusta and learning about Harrisburg and the other rural neighborhoods has been rewarding.
“I’d always been into history but getting into these overgrown lots and finding out some are cemeteries, it’s opened up a whole other world for me,” she said. “It’s important to remember the people who helped to build Augusta. The people buried in these plots did some pretty amazing things.”
Brown said that the Marshal’s Office will also be present at Turn Back the Block’s Halloween Trunk or Treat on Friday, Oct. 29.
The event took place in 2020 as well. Kids from around the Harrisburg area are invited to gather at the site to collect candy and treats, yes, but also toothbrushes, books, school supplies and other items that are useful for a full and healthy life.
“It’s right across from our headquarters at 1919 Telfair St. from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The sole purpose is to celebrate being neighbors, to create fellowship and fun in a safe way for the holiday,” Brown said. “We’ll have organizations like the Morris Museum of Art, Heritage Academy, Augusta Locally Grown and others there to help out. It’s going to be fun, just fun.”
CityServe and Turn Back the Block are two organizations I’ve been happy to learn more about and get involved with over the past few weeks, and I look forward to seeing you readers out there at the next clean-up.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
