News  Community Service crew and staff prepare Gore Place for Earth Day event

Community Service staff and clients rolled up their sleeves and installed a temporary fence at the Gore Place, a historic 50-acre country estate in Waltham, in preparation for its Earth Day Sheep Shearing Festival on April 25th. This project, led by a community service participant, was a learning experience for both staff and clients.

"One of our participants has prior experience installing temporary fencing and we let him guide us with his expertise. He was a great leader and example for the other participants, while we were excellent learners and hard workers," said Jadeque Douglas, Middlesex County Lead Community Service Coordinator who also worked alongside Community Service Coordinator Brian McHugh.

“It is our hope that our clients continue to build skills and it is great when they use their own talents and experience by participating in events like Earth Day. This helps them better engage with the community while also giving back,” said Lisa Hickey, Assistant Statewide Supervisor.

The Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service Program (CSP) is an intermediate sanction organized by the Office of Community Corrections (OCC), a department of the Massachusetts Probation Service, which oversees court-ordered, supervised work services. The program allows participants to fulfill legal requirements through unpaid, productive work at non-profit and government agencies while fostering community restitution, skill development, and rehabilitation. Community service projects include highway beautification efforts, the stocking and distribution of food at food pantries, snow and ice removal, waterway and beach clean-up, weeding, planting, painting, and more.