Grilling burgers as an offering of thanks for help with yard work is a tradition that continues to be honoured by Stark and Marsh.
Go Green recently wrapped up another year in Swift Current, and the local accounting firm thanked all the volunteers who helped keep Swift Current's green spaces looking pristine with free burgers on Friday.
All told, the event raised $800, for the local SPCA as non-Go Green members paid $10 per meal.
Heading up the year-end volunteer appreciation grilling event was Ashley LaFontaine, marketing coordinator for Stark and Marsh.
"Our Go Green volunteers were able to eat for free, but I think lots of them were still donating," said LaFontaine.
This year, volunteers planted a total of 791 trees at various Swift Current parks. That number also includes shrubs and perennials, which now dot Elmwood Park, the City Ball Diamonds, and the road down to the dog park.
One of the events that LaFontaine remembers fondly from this year is when kids from the Chinook School Divison joined Go Green to plant some greenery along the creek bank along Seventh Avenue Northeast, near Ashley Park.
"That was pretty cool," said LaFontaine.
All told the group tackled 13 different projects throughout the summer. They had close to 130 volunteers helping improve the City of Swift Current.
"We were anticipating quite a few dropouts, just given the weather was pretty poor, especially in the afternoon (this year)," said LaFontaine. "But we still saw strong numbers, and we were able to accomplish everything that the City had laid out for us."
Part of the reason LaFontaine and other volunteers from Stark and Marsh have continued in this effort is the memories. Whenever they drive around the various parks and spaces, they can point to a tree or garden they installed, and remember the fun everyone had together on that day.
LaFontaine is hoping some people in Shaunavon will want to create and celebrate those memories as well.
"We're still looking for some community volunteers to maybe help us tackle the variety of projects that they have outlined for us," said LaFontaine. "We're excited to be able to offer Go Green not just in Swift Current, but in Shaunavon as well."