The organizer of the first ever 'Love Gretna' event is hoping to bring the community together to love on each other in a number of ways.

File photo - Community members in Morris tackling work in the community during a past 'Love Morris' event.Connie Dansereau said the 'Love Gretna' event will begin Friday and continue into Saturday.  Friday morning will begin with people handing out baked goods to every employee and employer in the community.  "It's to say thanks for all that you do, we appreciate you," said Dansereau.
    
The event will continue Saturday morning, and Dansereau is hoping community members will meet her at the park building to then go out together to tackle various jobs throughout the town.  One job will be to clean the newly renovated Gretna Fire Hall. They will also be pulling weeds from flower beds at a number of homes, as well as window cleaning at the centre in Gretna used to house refugees.  Dansereau said her goal is to welcome the newcomers and make them feel included in the community.

The love your community initiative began in Abbotsford, B.C. in the year 2000.  "There were a couple of churches that came together and wanted to know, how can we love our city."  

Here in Southern Manitoba the initiative has been happening in Morris for about a decade.  

The Love Gretna event will wrap up with a free hot dog meal, Saturday at lunch, which will be provided by Gretna Food and Deli, and donations from other community members as well.