Volunteering

Volunteers Needed to Help Maintain Services

Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of tasks that have, in the past, been handled by city staff. Due to budget constraints, the City of Red Wing has 20 vacant positions and is expecting to discontinue providing a variety of services to adjust to a significant decline in state-paid aids this year and into the future.

Council Member Carol Duff has been leading an effort to implement a program utilizing volunteers to supplement the work of city staff. “By tapping into the talents and contributions community members offer, we hope to somewhat maintain the level of services we have all grown accustomed to receiving in spite of the looming budget cuts. By working together, we all become a more connected community with value in each part.” Duff said.

Former Mayor Donna Dummer was appointed as the new Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Red Wing June 22. In this role, Dummer will volunteer her time to connect volunteers with appropriate tasks throughout all seasons and city departments. Her work has already begun with several volunteers helping maintain flower beds, within our parks and around public buildings. Dummer was Red Wing’s mayor from 2005 through 2008.

During the public input process for the budget crisis, more than 100 community members expressed interest in volunteering. Volunteers are needed to assist with the upkeep of more than 1,100 acres of parkland, 351,000 miles of sidewalks, and 969 fire hydrants within city limits. Specific areas in need of volunteers include:

• Weed whipping at Oakwood Cemetery 
• Pulling flowers from beds after they freeze
• Attending skating rink
• Shoveling snow from hockey boards at Athletic Field
• Blowing leaves at cemeteries
• Mowing and weed whipping
• Painting picnic tables, signs, and benches
• Assisting with staking and inspecting city construction projects ending in November
• Trimming hedges at parks
• Weeding and watering flower beds
• Trimming grass around fire hydrants, street signs, and guard rails
• Shoveling snow from around fire hydrants
• Scanning documents for archiving in Laserfiche
• Minor lawn maintenance of neighborhood parks
• Noting of burned-out streetlights for replacing and damaged sidewalks for repair
• Preparing gardens at the Sheldon Performing Arts Theatre for cool weather
• Cleaning bus shelters
• Maintenance of Red Wing Entrance signs and Barn Bluff entrance sign on Bluff Street
• Cleaning mats at the Universal Playground

Everyone in the community is encouraged to inquire about volunteer opportunities as individuals, groups, or families. For more information about volunteering with the City of Red Wing, contact Donna Dummer by phone at 385.5193, e-mail at volunteer.coordinator@ci.red-wing.mn.us.