Students from Cal planted along Shattuck Avenue on Saturday for The Berkeley Project, Cal's largest day of service. Photo: Ted Friedman
Students from Cal planted along Shattuck Avenue on Saturday for The Berkeley Project, Cal’s largest day of service. Photo: Ted Friedman
Students from Cal planted along Shattuck Avenue on Saturday for The Berkeley Project, Cal’s largest day of service. Photo: Ted Friedman

Thousands of UC Berkeley students fanned out across the city on Saturday to participate in the university’s largest day of service.

The students sanded, painted,  pulled non-indigenous plants at Tilden Park, and beautified sidewalks in downtown Berkeley, among many other activities.

The volunteer effort was run by The Berkeley Project, created in 2006 by students and completely student-operated.  The Berkeley Project, according to its mission statement, not only provides powerful assistance to the public, but aims to create “a lasting culture of service-learning among its participants” and to “permanently change the relationship between the students and residents of Berkeley through hands-on community service.”

Students weeded out non-indigenous plants in Tilden Park on Saturday, part of The Berkeley project. Photo: Ted Friedman
Students weeded out non-indigenous plants in Tilden Park on Saturday, part of The Berkeley project. Photo: Ted Friedman
After working, some students participating in The Berkeley Project rode the merry-go-round at Tilden Park. Photo: Ted Friedman
After working, some students participating in The Berkeley Project rode the merry-go-round at Tilden Park. Photo: Ted Friedman

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UC students take part in community work day (11.05.12)
Will Willard Pool become a vegetable garden (03.11.11)

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...