On July 23, 2023, members of ASEZ, the Church of God University Volunteer Group, participated in a sustainability effort at California State University, Fresno. The ASEZ group at the campus aimed to assist in sustainability efforts, focusing on the UN SDGs. The two SDGs targeted through this event were No. 4, Quality Education, and No. 13, Climate Action. In September 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed the urgent desire to save water due to the state’s severe drought: “Without action, state officials believe extreme weather could diminish California’s water supply by up to 10 percent by 2040. The state has implemented unprecedented measures to cut water use, build storage capacity and increase supply. And it’s also up to all of us to keep doing our part to curb our water use.”
With that in mind, the event planned to remove unnecessary grass and lay down mulch to conserve water. “It takes a lot of water to maintain the grass. A lot of work and effort is needed to keep up with it. By removing the grass and covering the ground, we save on water, which is more sustainable in the long run,” said Tim Breshears, the head of Facilities Management at Fresno State.
Over 25 members participated in this event and were able to remove a lot of grass and lay mulch in several areas, including empty planter beds in the parking lot. The volunteers gathered early in the morning to beat the summer heat, which got up to 108oF. To work effectively, they divided into three groups. One team was responsible for removing the existing grass. The second team leveled the ground and clean up the edges, while the third team spread the final layer of mulch. Frequently, the teams rotated to experience other areas and challenges, which allowed each volunteer to share each other’s burdens. Also, volunteers were eager to work hard irrespective of the hot weather and the difficult tasks. This event concluded an hour before the estimated time.
After seeing the quick turnaround time by the volunteers, Tim Breshears exclaimed, “On a day-to-day basis, we have a lot of maintenance to handle. Such projects with our crew would take anywhere from 8-10 days. Without volunteer efforts, sustainable projects such as these are impossible.” By doing this, the amount of water used daily decreased significantly.
Feng, a recent Geology graduate student, spoke on the passion behind the event: “I am passionate about the environment and trying to figure out ways to save water. Seeing all these volunteers, I realize there are many others who care about the environment and seek ways to help.” To help the university, ASEZ, the Church of God Student Volunteer Group, aims to host more events this year to provide a more sustainable future.
