I just signed up for my first volunteer project since the pandemic began and I’m excited. The project is painting garden gnomes for the local arboretum and botanical gardens. Volunteers will hide the painted gnomes in the gardens for people to find.

I haven’t volunteered since May of 2019. I started in March, but after my mom passed away, I decided it was important to be home more often. It’s been two years, and I’m finally ready to branch out and volunteer again!

The Wilbur D. May Arboretum is a green oasis near the university in Reno, Nevada. Visitors can walk through a wetland area, a native species garden, a rose garden…