Thirteen Sun City properties lay revitalized April 4, the result of Sun City Home Owner Association’s Spring Day of Service.  

Gone throughout Sun City were numerous dead trees, weeds, overgrowth and unsafe storage that the homeowners were unable to take care of themselves, physically and financially.

More than 150 volunteers joined with community organizations and business teams and quickly transformed front, side and back yards in one morning.

Teams formed from different clubs, groups and businesses to weed, prune, rake and improve properties to support not only those individual homeowners but their direct neighbors and the entire community.

“We have 50 percent more volunteers join our Spring Day of Service in comparison to our inaugural day in October,” said Kristine Schmitz, SCHOA’s compliance manager, who organized the event. “We are truly thankful to all of the volunteers and the volunteer teams who dug in to make a difference. Each and every one demonstrated once again that Sun City truly deserves the title, City of Volunteers.”

The first SCHOA Day of Service held in October 2024 gathered more than 100 volunteers and cleaning a dozen properties. That success grew exponentially this year, said Schmitz, notably with an increase in SCHOA business partners taking part.

“We had more than a dozen SCHOA business partners this Spring, a big jump from our wonderful one original team – many landscapers and haulers who took a day off from their work to donate time, energy, equipment and muscle to get a lot done fast,” Schmitz said.

The help was needed, based upon the numbers:

• More than 150 volunteers
• More than 12 business sponsors and volunteers
• More than 8 community partner agencies
• Working 7 a.m.-noon: five 5 hours
• 13 properties revitalized
• Four large dumpsters and numerous more business partner dumpsters and trucks

 The cost of the work accomplished would normally equal into tens of thousands of dollars, Schmitz estimated.

Along the way were many stories of adventure, achievement and gratitude.

Some volunteers were new to Sun City; two retired teachers, as an example, had just moved in two months before the day. Others had long histories of volunteering to help out and dove in with excitement, knowing what would happen that morning. Presidents and members of clubs spread the word and formed their own teams. Businesses who work in the area wore their shirts to showcase that they also care.

The projects varied, from a home with four dead trees to a 25-foot oleander.

Homeowners were grateful, one standing watch as a team of a dozen volunteers took down multiple trees and bushes that died last summer - in just an hour and a half of work. The homeowner was unable to care for the landscaping and was eager to appreciate those who could.

“The Day of Service is succeeding in not only helping with our mission to keep properties clean, safe and beautiful – but they are helping to draw our community together, and build a strong system of support,” said Lisa Gray, SCHOA general manager. “We could not be more proud, and more grateful, of the incredible outpouring of support to make this happen.”

The Spring Day of Service is led by SCHOA in partnership with community organizations including: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Sun City Fire and Medical Department, Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko, Maricopa County Department of Transportation, Sun City PRIDES, Condominium Owners Association of Sun City, Sun City Posse, Parks & Sons of Sun City and The Nixon Group.

Landscape and hauling companies that are part of SCHOA’s business partner program donated their services: SVH Landscaping, The Real Yard Guy, Good People Landscaping Services, JC Landscaping, T.A.C.T. 48 and JC Hauling.

SCHOA business partners supporting these efforts either financially and/or creating their own volunteer teams included: Verlo Mattress, Renewed Life Properties, Janice Boyer with Weichert Realtors, Aqua Therapy Tubs and Sunland Plumbing & Construction.

Teams also formed from among clubs — with a big presence from the Garden Club, the NextGen Club and others coming to help from the Ukulele Club and the Pickleball Club — and many representing multiple groups and clubs.

With any project the size of the Day of Service, there are bound to be unexpected adventures, and when a swarm of bees took respite in one of the trees the night before Schmitz leapt into action, calling on SCHOA business partner The BeeKeeper, who immediately responded. The bees were gone by the morning as work began.

As dramatic an impact the Day of Service made, Sun City is a community of nearly 40,000 residents – and 27,500 properties, from single family homes to condos. The Day of Service injects one morning of impact into what Schmitz’s Compliance Department works with annually, handling hundreds of compliance cases each month among her small part time team.

“We realize not every home qualifies, for one reason or another, but please know we are responding to everything we receive, and sometimes we have to work through a process we cannot control,” Schmitz said. “However, for those who are still in need of help, we work closely with the SCHOA Foundation for individual projects throughout the year.”

The SCHOA Foundation continues to help fund projects for those who qualify and cannot do the work themselves. Those who want to help in the ongoing effort, can donate toward the SCHOA Foundation at SunCityHOA.org/Foundation.

To learn more about becoming a member of SCHOA, visitSunCityHOA.org/Membership or call 623-974-4718.