Help Equip Silent Grounds Collective
We have begun the work. Now we need the tools and operating support to keep going. Help us raise $20,000 for cleanup equipment, protective gear, supplies, transportation, insurance, and the everyday costs of caring for Connecticut’s historic places. Our West Cemetery cleanup shows what people can accomplish together. Your gift helps us return prepared and sustain the work beyond a single weekend.
The work has started. Help us keep it going.
At West Cemetery in Meriden, Connecticut, volunteers came together on October 24–25, 2026 to clear brush and fallen branches, rake and bag leaves, and bring markers hidden by overgrowth back into view. These photographs show the work and the people who made it possible.
Now we need the tools and operating support to keep showing up. Silent Grounds Collective is raising $20,000 for the practical needs behind every workday.
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.
Reliable tools can serve project after project. Operating support helps get those tools and volunteers to the site and keeps the work organized. Your gift helps turn a successful weekend into continued care.
Help us return prepared
Give $10, $25, $50, or any amount. Choose a one-time gift or monthly support on the form. Businesses interested in contributing tools, supplies, or operating support can email silentgroundscollective@outlook.com. Please arrange equipment donations before dropping anything off.
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