Hundreds of Lehi volunteers spent Saturday, Sept. 12, cleaning city parks and assembling food kits at the fifth annual Lehi Serves Day of Service.

Six individuals and one business received Heart of Service and JustServe Hero Awards at a closing ceremony held at Willow Creek Middle School, as Lehi Free Press first reported. Mayor Paul Binns participated in the program, flying the colors and sharing reflections on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The morning began with volunteers fanning out across city parks for grounds cleanup while others gathered at the middle school to stuff teddy bears, tie blankets and pack food kits. Choirs from Skyridge and Lehi high schools performed at the noon ceremony, where student body officers joined Binns on stage.

The awards honored a range of service.

Heart of Service Award recipients

Gig Griffith, a student council advisor, was recognized for empowering young leaders in higher education and professional organizations.

Cindy Kramer earned her award for logging nearly 3,000 volunteer hours at Thanksgiving Point, contributing to Ashton Gardens, the Butterfly Biosphere and Curiosity Farms.

Diane and Alan Knight and their grandson Luke Knight were honored for baking homemade cookies every Saturday night at the Lehi Ronald McDonald House Family Room. "On Saturday nights, Luke hangs out with grandma and grandpa, and we wanted to make this time special," Diane Knight said. She added that the weekly routine started after she read about the family room and reached out to ask if they could bake for families staying there.

JustServe Hero Award recipients

Enoch Streadbeck, the youth recipient, logged more than 167 hours during the summers of 2025 and 2026 mentoring local children and families.

Katie Bunnell, the adult recipient, co-founded the Lehi-based Live Your Dream Foundation, which provides scholarships and family support to single mothers across Utah. According to the foundation's 2022 annual report, the organization had awarded 212 scholarships totaling more than $357,000 as of that year. Bunnell co-founded the nonprofit in 2010. Her husband Byron had passed away in 2005.

Strata Networks, the business recipient, partnered with Lehi City to revitalize Willow Park by installing horseshoe pits and a swing set. The company also removed 300 feet of old asphalt trail at Dry Creek Park, prepped new trail alignments and cleared overgrown vegetation.

A coalition built on service

The Lehi Serves Coalition, founded in 2022, organized the event. Founding member Abby Hughes said the event is "a contagious, happy feeling" and "my favorite day of the year."

The Day of Service is held annually near the Sept. 11 anniversary. No date has been announced for the 2027 event. Residents can visit justserve.org/lehiarea for updates on future volunteer opportunities.