The weather was perfect Saturday as 125 volunteers descended upon Fort McAllister to help spruce up the state historic park.
The effort was part of the 2013 Your State Park Day, and many came from the surrounding areas to donate their time.
“With the budget cuts and with the effect of the downed economy, every volunteer is not only here to donate their time, but they are donating money without realizing it,” Park Ranger Sarah Miller said. “For every volunteer and for every hour that they worked, the park gets $2 back in to their friends group, which goes straight to our park.”
All ages were welcome to lend a helping hand. Among the volunteers were Girls Scouts, members of the Richmond Hill High School Interact Club, Savannah Derby Devils and the Kappa Sigma Fraternity from Armstrong Atlantic.
And volunteers were not afraid to get dirty. The work included cutting down branches, cleaning up Spanish moss, putting a fresh coat of paint on the park’s buildings and raking a seemingly endless amount of leaves.
“We like coming out there to help the community,” Sergio Progushuv, a Kappa Sigma member said. “We all live here and it is nice to go out to the park and hang out some time.”
As the groups broke for lunch, the park rangers and Friends of the Fort McAllister group made sure the volunteers were being well cared for.

Read full story in Oct. 2 issue of the Bryan County News.