THE WORK HAS STARTED. HELP US RETURN PREPARED.
Silent Grounds Collective is raising $20,000 for the tools and operations that help us return prepared: cleanup equipment, protective gear, supplies, equipment upkeep, transportation, insurance and the practical support behind our preservation and stewardship work.
A weekend of care. Help equip what comes next.
On October 24–25, 2026, Silent Grounds Collective volunteers gathered at West Cemetery in Meriden, Connecticut. They cleared brush and fallen branches, raked and bagged leaves, and brought markers hidden by overgrowth back into view. The photographs here show the people and the work.
A cleanup weekend takes willing hands. Continuing that care also takes reliable tools, protective equipment and practical operating support. Your gift helps get people and supplies to the site and sustain the work beyond one weekend.
What your gift supports
Tools and equipment: rakes, shovels, loppers, pruning tools, wheelbarrows, and appropriate equipment for approved brush and grounds work.
Safety and supplies: work gloves, eye and hearing protection, first-aid supplies, debris bags, and preservation-appropriate cleaning materials.
Equipment upkeep: maintenance, repairs, replacement parts, fuel, and batteries where needed.
Operations: project transportation, hauling and disposal, insurance, storage, volunteer coordination, training, and essential administration.
Purchases and operating needs will be prioritized according to available funds and the work ahead. Gifts support SGC’s tools and operations across its preservation and stewardship work.
What comes next
We are planning another phase at West Cemetery in spring 2027: seasonal cleanup, documenting damaged stones, and preservation-appropriate stone cleaning. Dates and details will be announced when confirmed.
Help us return prepared
Please make a gift through SGC’s GoFundMe Pro campaign. Any amount helps support the tools and operations behind the work.
Another way to give: SGC’s new Zeffy campaign. Prefer PayPal? Donate with PayPal.
Businesses interested in contributing tools, supplies, or operating support can email silentgroundscollective@outlook.com. Please arrange equipment donations before dropping anything off.
After you give, share the campaign link with someone who cares about local history, cemeteries or hands-on community work. If a donation is not possible, sharing the link is another practical way to help.
Thank you to our volunteers and donors, the City of Meriden, and the Meriden Department of Parks and Recreation for helping make the October cleanup possible.
Silent Grounds Collective, Inc.
Preserve • Restore • Remember
