Lend a Hand in Leland is a community-wide day of service initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and volunteerism within our beloved Town. We're dedicated to bringing together a diverse group of individuals, families, and organizations to make a positive impact in our community through various volunteer projects and activities. This year, Lend a Hand in Leland will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature five meaningful volunteer opportunities in partnership with local organizations. Learn more about each project by clicking the green tabs below.
Join Cape Fear River Watch to clean a Leland area watershed.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: TBA in early September
Cape Fear River Watch is excited to partner with the Town of Leland for Lend a Hand in Leland! For this event, Cape Fear River Watch will be hosting a cleanup near a waterway in Leland. Escaped litter is not just unsightly, it also has detrimental effects on the environment and wildlife. A cleanup is a great way to raise awareness of this issue in addition to removing litter that is polluting the environment in Leland.
More project details will be shared closer to the event.
All ages are welcome. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Cape Fear River Watch will supply all necessary equipment such as pickers, gloves, safety vests, bags, and bug spray.
Closed-toe shoes are required on site. Long pants are suggested. Please bring water.
Cape Fear River Watch is an environmental nonprofit based in Wilmington, but its work encompasses the whole Cape Fear River Basin from the headwaters to the mouth and everywhere in between. The mission of Cape Fear River Watch is to protect and improve the water quality of the Cape Fear River Basin for all people through education, advocacy, and action.
Assist Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity in building its first community in Leland, with tasks varying by stage of construction.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Highland Hills Drive
As part of its affordable housing mission, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity will be constructing 10 new homes off Highland Hills Drive in the Fuller Court Neighborhood. For Lend a Hand in Leland, Habitat will host a build day at this location. A build day consists of volunteering on the construction site and can include tasks such as framing, window and door installation, applying exterior siding, interior trim work, flooring, cabinet installation, and site cleanup.
More project details will be shared closer to the event.
Participants must be at least 16 years old. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All skill and labor levels are welcome.
Proper construction site clothing with closed toe footwear is required to volunteer.
Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1993 and is a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.
We believe that safe and decent shelter should be a fundamental human right. Our goal and mission is to end substandard housing. People from all walks of life are invited to work together with us to help build houses for those families in need. Our homeowners include young families with small children, single parents and those with disabilities.
Our homes are built with volunteer labor, tax deductible donations, and proceeds from our ReStore retail locations. Homeowners invest a substantial amount of time and sweat equity into building their own homes. The house is then sold to the partner family with a below market interest rate. Money collected from partner family mortgage repayments is used to help finance the construction of future Habitat homes.
Volunteers will join We Live Here to pick up roadside trash in the Westgate District.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Westgate District (Gateway Boulevard and Ploof Road)
Join We Live Here to pick up roadside trash in the Westgate District, focusing on Gateway Boulevard and Ploof Road. Our goal is to pick up the entirety of Gateway Boulevard, Ploof Road, and Westgate Drive. We will then analyze this trash for trends and are happy to make the data available to anyone committed to addressing the problem.
More project details will be shared closer to the event.
Participants of all ages are welcome. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We Live Here will provide all necessary equipment.
We Live Here is a group of highly social, purpose-centered people in Leland working together to make sure the place we live is a place we love.
Join We Live Here and Lowe's Home Improvement staff to plant trees in the Westgate District to beautify the neighborhood, improve the environment, and enhance walkability.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Westgate District (Gateway Boulevard and Ploof Road)
In February, the Town of Leland planted four Brandywine Maples at the intersection of Tradeway Drive and Gateway Boulevard. These served as tokens of good will in our area and a reflection of the Town’s commitment to the replanting of an area that now shoulders much of Leland’s recent development. We Live Here, in collaboration with the Town of Leland staff, Lowe’s Home Improvement, the NCSU Cooperative Extension, and Sierra Club, have formed the Westgate Tree Planting Project Team to develop a strategy to replant the rights-of-way along Tradeway Boulevard. Thanks to the Town of Leland and Lowe's, the Westgate District is slated to get its second round of street trees in October.
We are still confirming what mechanized equipment might be available to minimize the manual labor of tree planting. However, we anticipate some lifting and adjusting of trees will be necessary, along with potential labor to dig the necessary holes.
More project details will be shared closer to the event.
Participants of all ages are welcome. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
All necessary equipment will be provided.
We Live Here is a group of highly social, purpose-centered people in Leland working together to make sure the place we live is a place we love.
Lace up your walking shoes and join We Live Here and AARP on a Walk Audit to explore and improve neighborhood walkability.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: Westgate District (Gateway Boulevard and Ploof Road)
In partnership with AARP-NC and in recognition of Pedestrian Safety Month, We Live Here is hosting a Walk Audit of the Westgate District, with the goal of identifying how the pedestrian experience can be a safer, more enjoyable experience. Participants will be assessing the pedestrian experience along the streets and roads of the Westgate District.
Leland has made noteworthy strides in becoming a more walkable, more accessible community and is part of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The Westgate District’s sidewalk infrastructure has greatly increased the pedestrian connectivity for community members in the area but remains vastly underutilized as an alternative to motor vehicles, given the increased residential volume now within walking distance of the commercial center.
More project details will be shared closer to the event.
Participants of all ages are welcome. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Participants will be required to wear reflective vests and attend a safety briefing prior to the Walk Audit. Volunteers with diverse mobility needs are encouraged to participate.
We Live Here is a group of highly social, purpose-centered people in Leland working together to make sure the place we live is a place we love.
About Lend a Hand in Leland
Lend a Hand in Leland strives to foster a strong sense of community ownership and pride by connecting residents with local volunteer opportunities through collective days of service. We aim to empower individuals to make a positive impact, enriching the fabric of our Town and enhancing the quality of life for all.
- To encourage ownership and a sense of pride in residents through volunteerism.
- To provide opportunities for residents to participate in reoccurring days of community service.
- To engage residents and community groups in a variety of diverse projects.
- To work together to strive for a Leland where the spirit of service thrives year-round.
- Engage residents of all ages and backgrounds in meaningful volunteer activities that address local needs and promote community well-being.
- Forge strong partnerships with local non-profit and governmental organizations, businesses, institutions, and community groups to expand volunteer opportunities and maximize collective impact.
- Ensure that volunteer opportunities are accessible and inclusive to all residents, regardless of socio-economic status, abilities, or backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging and unity within the community.
If you'd like to learn more about Lend a Hand in Leland or how to get you or your organization involved, please email us at lendahand@townofleland.com.