Hands of Light in Action Plans Fundraiser for Dexter Tornado Clean Up on Saturday

As Dexter residents affected by the March 15 tornado continue down the arduous road of rebuilding damaged homes, Hands of Light in Action, a local nonprofit group is planning a fundraiser benefiting ongoing clean-up efforts.

The Canton-based nonprofit will hold a community party on Saturday for volunteers and homeowners involved in the Dexter tornado cleanup effort. The event will take place from 3-9 p.m. at Monument Park, and includes food, music, face painting and games. There is a suggested donation of $15 for adults; $5 for youths 6-14; and free for children under 5.

"Homeowners are excited for the event. They just want to have fun and get together with all the volunteers," Nancy Malone, founder of Hands of Light said.

Malone said Hands of Light has not asked for any donations for the Dexter cleanup since volunteers began arriving to the affected areas days after the torando hit, but now volunteers need to rent heavy equipment to accomplish tree stump removal at several homes.

"We have begun stump removal and are taking names, addresses, phone numbers of folks with tree stumps uprooted. The stumps that are in the ground will be included in the next phase of volunteer work as we will grind those in the ground," Malone said. "When all the stumps are removed, we will have a day where heavy equipment comes in and chips up the stumps."

Dexter Township resident Laurie Higgins is one homeowner thankful for the help Hands of Light volunteers provided during the clean up effort.

"They saved us two years of clean up between our four acres of woods that are no longer woods," she said.

For more information about the community party on Saturday, email handsoflightinaction@gmail.com or contact Malone at 734-788-9230.

The "Dexter Cleanup Posse" is also looking for volunteers to help with ongoing clean up efforts in Dexter and Dexter Township. The group is seeking volunteers for April 28-29. For more information, call Sue Keen at 734-709-0171.