Given New York City's reputation as a concrete jungle, it's no wonder that New Yorkers love their city's parks.

And in an effort to give back to the city and its people, twenty-three exchange visitors lent a helping hand at Cunningham Park on June 14 by filling trash bags with the leaves they picked up off the park's grounds, making sure the park looked its very best.

These exchange visitors are participants of the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) organized by FUSIA Communications, a designated sponsor of the US State Department's Exchange Visitor Program. For many of the students who had traveled all the way from Asia to participate in the program, this activity was their first time volunteering.

"But this activity isn't just about volunteering," said Cloris Chan, a student leader of this volunteer initiative who studies at the City University of Hong Kong. "We learned about the importance of keeping our environment clean. Especially in an urban place like New York City where we don't see a lot of greenery, we need to make sure that we take care of the city parks."

"Today we experienced how global communities can become vibrant and strong through action. As exchange visitors, we are proud to give back to the city where we intern for seven weeks," added David Wang, another student leader of this activity.
In appreciation for the volunteers' efforts, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation gave the students tickets for the Big Apple Circus, a seasonal performance by circus troupes at the Cunningham Park.
It was a tiring but fun and rewarding day in which the students, community, and environment were truly connected through the act of volunteerism.

Special thanks to the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Friends of Cunningham Park, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the maintenance of Cunningham Park.

About Cunningham Park: A 358-acre oasis of fields, ponds, trails, recreation facilities and precious forest in Eastern Queens, Cunningham Park has been a meeting ground for New Yorkers throughout the past century. Today, Cunningham Park is an integral part of the New York City Greenway system, providing essential growing space for flora, fauna and humans.