Maricopa, Ariz. (June 25, 2008) – COPA cares, a community project sponsored by the City of Maricopa Community Services Department and ACE Hardware, will be cleaning up overgrown weeds and straightening up yards at 18 homes in The Villages of Rancho El Dorado on Saturday, June 28 beginning at 6:30 a.m.

COPA Cares has tackled two additional projects in the past month, yard clean ups at Alterra and Acacia Crossings. Over 80 volunteers helped pull weeds and straighten yards at 60 properties in these neighborhoods.

“COPA Cares benefits the community by bringing people together to assist one another,” stated Community Services Director Martin McDonald. “Neighbors are uniting in an effort to help those that are unable to clean their yards, and to help with yard maintenance of empty houses.”

“Maricopa is a community with a heart,” Mayor Anthony Smith proclaimed. “And, COPA Cares demonstrates this. As this program expands beyond yard clean-up and into other facets of assistance, it is the community that will come together and make this program successful.”

If you are interested in assisting with upcoming COPA Cares projects, contact Brian Duncan at brian.duncan@maricopa-az.gov or 520/316-6989.

COPA CARES is a community service program sponsored by the City of Maricopa Community Services Department and ACE Hardware. This program demonstrates the fact that Maricopa is a community with a heart. COPA Cares projects include: yard clean-up, food drives, foreclosure prevention and special projects.