Project Auburn organizers need you.

The planners of this year’s annual community service fix-up day slated for May 31 want to rally about 400 volunteers to help paint curbs, install benches and landscaping — to name a few tasks to be tackled.

Larry Dorety, public relations chair for the project, said about 100 volunteers have already pledged help.

“We always have about 60 to 100 volunteers built in from the various service organizations that help out each year,” Dorety said. “But we would really like to have about 300 to 400 volunteers this year.”

Organizers are also in need of about $15,000.

“The major part of the funding for Project Auburn 2008 will be coming from the Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center and from city of Auburn Urban Development funds,” Nick Willick, former Auburn Police chief and Project Auburn chairman said in a statement about the project. “The rest needs to be found from donors — companies, private organizations like service clubs and foundations and individuals. We need help from the citizens of Auburn to the tune of about $15,000.”

The Old State Theater, the Carnegie Building and the Joe Elder bus station will all be the recipients of this year’s planned upgrades.

Organizers say volunteers and donors have been generous in supporting past projects.

“In previous years, we have had a good balance in the mini projects — some that need the exper-tise of professional contractors and those that fit the skills of the citizen volunteers,” Willick said. “And we have had a good balance in contributions. Sponsors have contributed materials free or at cost, cash donors have contributed generously.”

But this year, Willick said organizers are going to need a little boost in support.

“The donations of materials and contractor labor have been good this year, but our need is greater than past years,” Willick said. “To redo the theater’s façade will require lead paint abatement, plaster repairs, the installation of new doors, windows and tile, and the removal and replacement of the con-crete in the entry foyer.”

And most of the work needs to be done before May 31 so volunteers can help paint the building and clean up in and around the theater.

The Placer County Contractor’s Association is working to line up the professional help for the ini-tial effort.

Volunteers will also help with landscape improvements along Lincoln Way from Oak Street to Central Square. A new patio courtyard will also be installed at the Carnegie Library building on Al-mond Street.

This is the fourth Project Auburn being spearheaded by Willick and City Manager Bob Richardson.

Richardson brought the idea for the volunteer day from the city of Lemon Grove, where he started the successful “Project Lemon Grove” community service days. Willick had been doing “This Old House”-style renovations on single homes, but liked the broader scope of the Project Auburn idea.

The first project three years ago included painting and refurbishing many local homes.

Previous projects also included renovating Old Town Auburn, Bicentennial Park, painting and re-furbishing two Old Town buildings — one to be used as a medical museum and the other the home to the Auburn Community Foundation. Also included were a new marquee sign near Interstate 80 and beautiful adjoining flowerbeds.

Last year, the project helped to renovate the Auburn Recreation District’s Recreation Park.

The Journal’s Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story at auburnjournal.com.

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More information on how you can help:

Contributions can be sent to the Rotary Club of Auburn at 249 Foresthill Ave., Auburn, 95603. To volunteer, call Project Auburn Chairman Nick Willick at (530) 888-8643 or Bill Kirby at (530) 885-2124.

More information: Project Auburn

What: Annual community service fix-up day

Where: Old State Theater, Carnegie Building, Lincoln Way

When: 8 a.m. until complete, Saturday, May 31