Voluntary servitude

Several local groups and nonprofits are looking for volunteers to sign up for upcoming spring events. These events are pretty volunteer-dependent, so whether you’re interested in recycling, pulling weeds, planting or restoring the Truckee River, give these groups a look.

The first one is this Saturday, April 9 to get the public garden at Wilbur D. May Arboretum ready for spring while also getting advice from local gardening experts. It will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. To volunteer, call 823-6514. Visit www.maycenter.org.

Then on Saturday, April 16, the Nature Conservancy will be kicking off their “Spring Volunteer Push.” Events will then take place on eight consecutive weekends to complete planting and restoration work along the Truckee River. It will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Mustang Ranch restoration site, about 10 miles east of Reno on I-80. Learn more by calling 2224-9158, or email <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">{ document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,34,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,110,118,102,111,118,111,108,117,110,116,101,101,114,64,116,110,99,46,111,114,103,34,62,110,118,102,111,118,111,108,117,110,116,101,101,114,64,116,110,99,46,111,114,103,60,47,97,62)) } </script>. Visit www.nature.org.

Disability Resources/New2U Computers also needs volunteers to help collect electronic waste and guide traffic at the Community e-Waste Recycling Event, which will take place Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m.- 2p.m. Residents will be dropping off TVs, computer equipment, speakers, cords, cables, DVD players and even metal and car parts. Held at 310 E. Plumb Lane, the site of the former Park Lane Mall. For volunteer information, call 329-1126, or sign up at www.ktmb.org.

And on Saturday, May 7 the Great Truckee Meadows Community Cleanup will, for the seventh year, give the region a good spring cleaning. Volunteers can choose from 15 different sites around the area, picking up illegal dump sites and pulling invasive weeds from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will be rewarded with an appreciation picnic following the cleanup. Learn more and sign up by calling 851-5185, or visit www.ktmb.org.