On Saturday, October 26th, people rose around the nation with the intention to make positive changes in local communities. On this national day of service, Make a Difference Day, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center hosted twenty volunteers who set out to give the natural history museum a fresh face. Volunteers traveled from all over the Central Coast, from local Guadalupans to Cal Poly students, and everywhere in between. Each volunteer shared a common goal- to repaint the fence uniting the Dunes Center and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

How did this impact the community?

Guadalupe is a small, quiet agricultural beach town located on the border of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. An article in the Santa Maria Times brought attention not only to the Dunes Center event, but to this small town as well. Local residents were excited to see such a large presence in the community, which they showed through their friendly waves and encouraging words.

What changed at the Dunes Center?

Volunteers scraped, sanded, and painted the old fence, giving it a bright and vibrant new look. Already, the fence has had lots of positive feedback, which is necessary to keep the Dunes Center’s mission alive. Keeping a well maintained building is crucial to bringing in new visitors and members to the museum. In turn, this allows us to expand our nature education programs, including afterschool programs, field trips, and community hikes.

Are there more opportunities to get involved?

Volunteers, donors, and supporters create the success of the Dunes Center. A huge impact was made on Make a Difference Day, however there is always more to be done. The Dunes Center is actively trying to find a variety of volunteers who will continue to make the museum and programs shine. Opportunities vary between our education programs, community hikes, and visitor center. Contact [email protected] for more information on how to become involved.