Dirt and the desire to make a difference drew volunteers Saturday to Moraine State Park's Spring Clean-up Day to celebrate Earth Day. “Everything we get comes from Mother Earth,” said Mike Shaffer,right, environmental education specialist. “We are all connected one way or another.”

Slippery Rock University junior Jazzmin Penasaovic used her green rake to scrape golden leaves across the brown earth into a pile.

“The Earth is important,” said Penasaovic, 21. “It's important to remember there's nature, not just the city.”

Penasaovic was one of about 12 people drawn to the dirt with desire to make a difference Saturday at Moraine State Park's Spring Clean-up Day to celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day, on Monday this year, is a global event that more than 1 billion people in 192 countries take part, according to the Earth Day Network website. The theme for this year's Earth Day is “Protect Our Species.”

Penasaovic thought it would be a good idea to spend the day volunteering outside, she said.

The group worked to clean the native species garden in front of the South Shore park office as they raked and mulched the garden bed and pulled invasive plants.

Read the full story in Monday's Butler Eagle>