Local Church Gives Historic Downtown Murrieta a Helping Hand

Octogenarian Rita Park came home Saturday after two months living elsewhere, with caregivers.

The 86-year-old Murrieta resident suffers from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder that causes serious and permanent problems with control of gait and balance, which makes it difficult for her to eat, drink or speak.

Saturday she returned home to see it brought back to ship-shape status.

Rita Park's home in Historic Downtown Murrieta on 1st Street was repainted, flowers were planted and her yard was mowed and weeded.

Her constant smile throughout the day served as testament to her feelings, which she could not express verbally.

Built in 1924, her home was a converted butcher shop. There she raised eight children and was an active member of the community. Much of her free time was spent volunteering at the , Animal Friends of the Valleys and other places around town.

She was also Honorary Mayor of Murrieta for six years.

While Park officially will not move back into her home until next week, she and her family expressed happiness with the changes wrought today, through the kind efforts of those who wanted to help.

On Saturday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--through their Mormon Helping Hands Day of Service and in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley--gave a “facelift” to 20 homes, including Parks’.

“We as community members wanted to address an area that was burdened with blight,” said Jeannie McClellan, director of public affairs for the Church. “Some people just need the extra bit of help and we [as a church] are eager to serve.”

And serve the volunteers did.

Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., more than 260 volunteers from the Church, Habitat For Humanity Inland Valley and the Rotary Club of Murrieta spent more than 1,400 volunteer hours mowing lawns, weeding and painting houses.

Seven houses were painted, more than 400 bags of trash were collected and removed, and more than 200 packs of seeds planted for flowers. Oak Grove Center was also a recipient of the volunteer effort.

While her home was not one of those getting beautified, Maria Sanchez understood the effect it has on the neighborhood as a whole.

“It makes the homes [being worked on] look nice and the homes not being worked on look nice too,” Sanchez said.

“It gives them (in the neighborhood) a sense of pride," said Tammy Marine, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley.

Those affected also included the Church members themselves. While no one took part in the effort for any personal gain, many of them found their volunteer efforts rewarding.

Yet some, like Leslie Elkins, didn’t grasp the full effect until they were ankle deep in the weeds.

“I’ve had two cars stop and (motorists) ask me what we were doing,” Elkins said. “When I told them, they thanked us over and over again. It’s not why I do it, but it’s nice to know people appreciate the help we are giving.”

It is a great help for those like Park, who cannot work on her property herself because of personal hardship.

“My mother can barely move,” said Pearce Park, Rita Park's son. “However, being able to live in her own home and (having) it looking so beautiful really makes her happy.”

He said although the changes made by volunteers Saturday were more cosmetic than structural, it made a huge difference.

Church volunteer Ben Perkins quoted a verse from the Book of Mormon to sum up his feelings about the work he and his fellows did today.

“In the book of Mosiah, Chapter 2, verse 17,  it states ‘when [you] are in the service of your fellow [man],  [you] are only in the service of your God.’”