After the Annual Meeting, the Wedge Turns to Its Summer Volunteers

LHENA, the volunteer-run nonprofit that represents the neighborhood known as the Wedge, runs almost everything on resident labor. City funding covers the basics of operating a neighborhood organization, but the markets, cleanups and socials that define the season depend on neighbors stepping up, and the association keeps an open volunteer call running into the fall.

The Mega Mueller Market bundles a bake sale, swap meet, small farmers table and art market into a single morning and is staffed entirely by volunteers. The same model carries the rest of the calendar, including a monthly neighborhood litter pickup, the next on June 20, and the National Night Out gathering on the first Tuesday in August.

Recognition is one tool the group uses to keep volunteers coming back. Since 2018, LHENA has presented Neighbor of the Year, Project of the Year and Partner of the Year awards at its annual meeting, with nominations submitted by residents and voted on by the 11-member board. Past honorees include Joan Moser, named Neighbor of the Year for her work in the neighborhood.

Volunteer sign-ups and the events calendar are posted at thewedge.org. New residents are encouraged to start with a single shift.