“Beautification” has been a buzzword in The Colony for many years. The City Council, Keep The Colony Beautiful Board, and the residents they serve continually prioritize programs and services aimed at neighborhood enhancement.
With those goals in mind, the city’s Community Image Department launched a tool-lending program in 2019 called, The Colony Cares, in which residents may checkout a variety of common home-improvement tools for use on their property – completely FREE of charge!
- The program has been offered on an as-needed basis up to now but starting April 7, a staffer will be available on-site to assist residents in checking out and returning tools from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays in the parking lot adjacent to Fire Station No. 2 at 5571 North Colony Blvd. Signs will be placed in the lot informing residents where to park.
When it was launched three years ago, The Colony Cares was the first program of its kind in North Texas, and has since been mirrored by other municipalities throughout the state. It serves as an extension of the city’s Volunteer Assistance Program (VAP). Community Outreach Officer Danny Dill is the program’s coordinator. Dill hopes this program will help those residents who have the ability to keep their homes maintained but not the means.
“The Colony Cares is designed for residents working on their own property,” Dill said. “We hope this program will help fill in the gaps for those homeowners who may not have big projects that qualify for the Volunteer Assistance Program but still need help with the upkeep of their home.
“We hope to solicit further participation by establishing dedicated hours for residents so they can plan to pickup their tools accordingly.”
The program is also available to volunteer groups working on neighborhood projects, such as Scout Troops, church groups, and/or students. Most of the tools and equipment were acquired through donations and grant money received to start this program.
Tools offered have been significantly expanded since the program’s inception, and include, but are not limited to: gas-powered lawn mowers; weed trimmers; blowers; rakes; shovels; ladders; pole saws; pruning shears; hedge trimmers; and safety gear. Click here for the complete list of available equipment. For more information, contact Dill at [email protected] or call 972-624-3160.