Treatment program, SWCD join forces for community projects

Groups who can benefit from free labor should call for more information.

staff report

CORTLAND — The Trumbull Soil and Water Conservation District and the Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program have joined forces to carry out landscaping and cleanup projects.

Residents of NEOCAP, a substance-abuse treatment program located on Pine Avenue in Warren, recently completed the installation of the Master Gardeners Demonstration and Research Garden, plus helped with creation of a children’s garden and cleanup of a pond — all at the Trumbull County Agriculture and Family Education Center on West Main Street.

The SWCD is located at the center.

NEOCAP residents also provided the Trumbull County MetroParks with outdoor work crews.

Allan Seifert, NEOCAP operations director, said NEOCAP residents are required to perform unpaid, supervised work for nonprofit and governmental agencies in the community. Litter pickup, grass cutting, landscaping, and working special events and festivals are examples of work being done, Seifert said.

Nonprofit and governmental agencies that are open to the public that think they might benefit from NEOCAP labor should call Seifert to discuss such a project. The phone number is (330) 675-2669, ext. 133.

Since opening in October 1997, NEOCAP’s residents have completed more than 50,000 hours of community work service.

NEOCAP’s mission is to provide a sentencing option — instead of prison — to the common pleas courts of the five member counties — Trumbull, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Portage.

If citizens or community groups are interested in getting involved with other environmental service projects, contact the Trumbull SWCD office at (330) 637-2056, ext. 101.