ARLINGTON – Two congregations in Arlington spent more than 250 man hours Sept. 10–13 in support of the Puget Sound Day of Service commemorating 9/11.

Members of the Stillaguamish and Arlington Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donned their yellow “Mormon Helping Hands” vests and reached out to provide community service.

Over 50 volunteers from the Arlington ward met at Haller Park. Their mission was to clean up the Eagle Trail and south bank of the Stillaguamish River.

Bill Blake, city Natural Resource manager, thanked the volunteers on behalf of the city and assured them that “the birds and the bees and the fish” would be appreciative as well. Several dozen bags were filled with garbage and debris.

Members from the Stillaguamish Ward held a food drive in an effort to replenish the local food bank. Families took donations at the Arlington Food Pavilion throughout the afternoon.  Youth and their leaders met later in the evening to canvass several neighborhoods door-to-door.  The final tally included over 500 pounds of food and supplies, as well as $113 in cash.

Another group of over 30 members cleaned up the property of a local neighbor.  After three hours, brush and blackberries, thistles and trees had been cleared from his field in preparation for winter.