Bright Stones Project
Project of Elk Rapids
Maple Grove Cemetery Elk Rapids, MI
Elk Rapids, MI 49629
Bright Stones Project is in cooperation with Elk Rapids Township providing an opportunity for the community to come together for an EPIC day of service above self.
Helpful tools and supplies
- Brush(s)- soft bristle toothbrush or soft bristle utility brush
- Bucket(s) for diluted dawn dish soap cleaning water.
- Dawn dish soap
- Scraper - Only plastic putty scraper or wooden shim to use as a scraper can be used. Township is supplying plastic scrapers, and Rotary is supplying wooden scrapers.
- Hand Pump Sprayer for wetting stone to begin and then for rinsing soapy solution off stone with clean water.
- Knee pads, or kneeling cushions
- Gloves
Headstone Cleaning Process
- Rinse stone with clean water.
- Scrape stone if needed.
- Scrub using soft bristle brush.
- Rinse with clean water.
Comments
- The Township will pretreat headstones early in the morning that are heavy covered with moss and place a marker flag next to the treated stone. Please be sure to address any stone with a marker flag.
- We will begin at the back of the cemetery and work our way toward the road.
- Our highest focus is our veterans’ headstones and other headstones in high need of cleaning.
- Our goal is to clean the stone to the best of our ability without scratching or damaging the stone or removing the sometimes-dark inset color of the information on the stone used when it was created. Be gentle and know this cleaning is not intended to be as if a professional stone cleaner performed the service.
- Your onsite go to Rotarians are Sherry and Doug. They will be moving throughout the cemetery to assist as needed and be sure everyone has what they need to be successful.
- Other fellow Rotarian will have an EPIC Day t-shirt on. Please reach out any Rotarian and time for assistance.
Parking and Volunteer Shifts
- Park along the road within the cemetery on one side of each road only.
- Volunteers can work the hours that best accommodate their schedule. The project time is 9:30am to 4:30pm with Lunch from noon to 1:30pm.