BREMERTON — Staff, students and families of the Bremerton School District get the chance to repay Bremerton on Saturday, May 14.

As a way to thank the Bremerton community for approving levies and supporting the school district, volunteers are gathering from 9 a.m. to noon, starting at Evergreen Park, for a day of service.

The day of service started in 2015, according to Patty Glaser, BSD community relations. In conjunction with a senior run to raise awareness for lupus, Glaser said about 100 volunteers gathered to help clean up downtown Bremerton.

“We start out at Evergreen park and then … walk to downtown Bremerton, clean up flower pots, do a little weeding,” Glaser said.

According to her, this community clean up, which involves light gardening such as weeding, picking up litter and generally “sprucing up” downtown, is a way “to visually thank our community for approving our levies and supporting us and for all of the partners we have.”

Glaser said May 14 was chosen as the date so that the volunteers can help clean up downtown Bremerton in preparation for the Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday, May 21.

“It’s one thing to send a thank-you note,” Glaser said, “it’s another thing to be seen as giving back to our community, and that’s the purpose.”

All students, staff and family members are welcome to participate; registration can be completed at bremertonschools.org. Registration is important so the district can be sure to have enough bright yellow T-shirts, which all volunteers receive. Additionally, last year’s volunteers can wear their T-shirts from last year to be entered into a prize drawing.

According to the website, the district has a limited number of tools available, so if possible, volunteers can bring their own, including gloves, garden hand tools, old screwdrivers, brooms and dust pans.

“We’re just looking forward to the opportunity and hoping for nice weather,” Glaser said. “We’re looking forward to once again be able to be in all our bright yellow shirts, thanking the community.”

To learn more or register as a volunteer, visit bremertonschools.org.