Opportunity Details
Uncovering History
East End Cemetery, located in eastern Henrico County, is a historic African American burial ground founded in 1897. It is the final resting place for any number of noteworthy black Richmonders, including Rosa Dixon Bowser, Dr. Richard F. Tancil, and Hezekiah F. Jonathan. Abandoned for many years, East End had become completely overgrown with ivy, brambles, and brush, until a small group of volunteers slowly began to reclaim the cemetery from nature and neglect in the summer of 2013.
Because of the delicate nature of the gravestones, heavy equipment cannot be brought in to assist with the clearing and cleanup needed to preserve this vital part of our region’s history. Volunteers will clear and maintain plots and grave markers by removing vegetation by hand and hauling it to a disposal location. Volunteers may also pick up trash that has been dumped illegally.
Local residents are finding the long-lost gravesites of their loved ones thanks to this work, and you can help make that happen!
The April project will be a part of Enrichmond Foundation's 24th Earth Day Richmond Celebration, Central Virginia’s premiere and longest running Earth Day event.
See some of the press about the cleanup effort:
BBC
CBS 6
Volunteers should wear long pants and long-sleeve shirts, and heavy shoes or boots. Please note that there are no restrooms on-site. Volunteers should bring water to drink and snacks if desired. See your My Account after registering for detailed directions.
All volunteers who plan to attend must be registered. This includes youth. If the post indicates adults must be present, youth and adults must register using the team functionality. To learn more about our team functionality, please view our Volunteer with a Group page.
Registration for this project will close 12 hours in advance.
Age Minimum (with Adult): 4+, Minimum Age:16+, Court Ordered Volunteer - Allowed
Log in or Register
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Sign up with a team
This link allows you to participate in this opportunity with a team. A team can be a family team, corporate team, or any kind of organized group. When you click on the link you will have the option to:
- Choose an existing team you're already a member or captain of, or
- Create a new team to sign up.
Signup Questions
Please respond to the following questions in order to signup for this opportunity: