Planting our azalea garden

The WRAL Azalea Celebration recently awarded our parish with more than 200 azaleas. We'll plant most of them on our Parish Campus Beautification Day on October 7.

Volunteers have been working round the clock to prep the area and to dig the holes. Now, it's all hands on deck to complete this project.

Check out the signup sheet for specific duties. But here's an overview. We need:

• five trucks or large SUVs on September 30 to pick up the plants from the WRAL tower in Garner.
• many volunteers to plant the azaleas on October 7.
• dozens of breakfast and snack items throughout the morning for the work crews.

Not every job requires "heavy lifting" or digging. We need a cheering and support team to distribute water and snacks, serve lunch, and do other light duties.

Check the signup link for specific duties, and sign up for what you can do.

Each fall since 1985, WRAL-TV 5, MIX 101.5 WRAL-FM, and NC Beautiful sponsor the WRAL Azalea Celebration and give away more than 5,000 azaleas non-profits from all over the state.

The giveaway strives to "establish a continuous, well-maintained project for their community to enjoy and emulate."

Each non-profit is eligible for the A.J. Fletcher Award three years after being awarded azaleas. Named for the founder of Capitol Broadcasting Company and creator of the WRAL Gardens, the A.J. Fletcher Awards honor organizations who have best maintained their landscaping projects created with their WRAL azaleas.

Azalea Garden Project signup