Approximately 45 volunteers sloshed through mud and trash April 3 when they cleared 10 tons of trash from an elderly resident’s home — in hopes she can soon put it up for sale.

Lillian Wilson, 80, of Puyallup, owns the one-story house in the 2200 block of Southwest 330th Street. She was forced to move when her husband died and she experienced a heart attack. She could no longer pay her bills, and the home has been empty the past year. Volunteer Raymond Bunk and the city’s code compliance department initiated the clean-up project when Bunk learned the house was due to be foreclosed upon. All the work and supplies needed to clean the home and property were donated by local groups and businesses.

“We’re in the process of cleaning it up, making the neighborhood a little bit better and doing the right thing for the community,” Bunk said during the event.

The city and several volunteer groups, including South King Fire and Rescue, came together for a couple of hours to remove the garbage inside and outside the home, perform yard work and clear out a garage.

Wilson was unable to attend the event, but is touched by the community’s thoughtful actions, she said by phone.

“I volunteered all my life helping people, and it’s coming back,” she said.

Outside the house, South King Fire and Rescue public information officers raked soggy layers of pine needles into trash bags. Several volunteers pulled trash and old personal belongings from a garage. Couches, mattresses, children’s toys, knickknacks and household goods were disposed.

Federal Way Public Schools AmeriCorps representative Jenah Oslund was so focused on her tasks at hand, she seemed not to notice her wet and muddy clothing.

Inside, Tina Garcia and her daughters Rubia, 11, and Catherine, 10, along with a friend, helped stuff trash bags full of items left in the living room and kitchen. The girls were happy to spend the last day of their spring break contributing to the community.

“It’s one of our favorite things to do,” Rubia said. “We just love community service.”

Garcia said she is not involved with any of the city’s volunteer groups, but is registered to receive its public notices and press releases. She gained interest in the volunteer event through a press release.

All waste was piled into a 30-yard trash bin outside the home. The bin was picked up and emptied after a few hours of work to allow for more garbage. The dumpster was provided by the city through the code compliance department. A voucher through King County Solid Waste paid the dumping fee for one load. The other load was paid for through the City’s nuissance abatement funds, Community Development director Greg Fewins said. The vouchers are available through the county to low-income residents, such as Wilson, and those who are victims of illegal dumping. Michael McBee, of Michael’s Tractor Service, donated his time and heavy equipment to help pack the waste into the dumpster. McBee said the service generally costs $120 an hour. He performed the work for free.

“Why not help the community?” he said. “I like to say ‘pay it forward.’”

The volunteers were only able to remove enough trash to fill the dumpster twice. Everything that was bagged but could not be hauled away was left at the home; vouchers did not cover dumping fees beyond the two loads. Any other work required to place the house on the market will be arranged by Wilson.