A local group hopes to turn tragedy into triumph.

As a way of honoring and remembering the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organizing a Day of Service in Federal Way.

“It’s in remembrance,” organizer Jack Walsh said. “As part of that, we are dedicating Sept. 11 as a day of service.”

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11, the hope is for 500 to 600 residents to come out and work at one of six location sites. At several area schools, volunteers will perform groundskeeping work, laying fresh bark and painting the curbs.

“The main thing is grounds beautification,” Walsh said. “We want to help the school district improve the appearance of the grounds.”

The locations are:

• Star Lake Elementary School, 4014 S 270th St.

• Totem Middle School, 26630 40th Ave. S.

• Kilo Middle School, 4400 S 308th St.

• Lake Dolloff Elementary School, 4200 S 308th St.

• Federal Way High School, 30611 16th Ave. S.

• King County Aquatic Center, 650 SW Campus Drive.

Volunteers who can’t stay for the whole time are still welcome to come and work whenever they can, Walsh said.

The event is similar to the community outreach day of service the church runs in the spring. That event, where the church works with the city, typically draws between 500 and 600 volunteers, which is why the church hopes for a similar turnout on Sept. 11, Walsh said.

Like the spring event, volunteers are asked to bring some of their own tools, including gloves, rakes, shovels, pruning shears, brooms and wheelbarrows.

This is the first year for the fall event. However, Walsh said it will now be an annual event.

For more information, contact Jack Walsh at (253) 335-8113 or jack@jwalshpr.com.