Graffiti gone, thanks to volunteers
Church members strive to wipe out blight
By Meg Boberg Special to The Acorn

Dianne Parcher, member of Fountain Foursquare Church in Moorpark, actively creates change when prayer is not enough. As director of her congregation's outreach programs, Parcher identifies ways to better the area.

"When something goes off inside your heart, you have energy and excitement to create change," Parcher said.

Six months ago, Dianne Parcher noticed a graffiti problem in Moorpark. Utilizing her missionary and evangelism training, Parcher put together a team of volunteers willing to donate time, money and materials to remove the graffiti.

Los Angeles County has a cityfunded graffiti removal program and a hotline in L.A. that allows residents to call in and identify problem areas. No such program exists in Ventura County though.

All graffiti removal is run by volunteers with donated materials. So far, Fountain Foursquare Church is the only group with an organized plan to reduce community graffiti.

Parcher recruited members within Fountain Foursquare to her cause and developed a group of 15 individuals. Together, they identify where graffiti appears in Moorpark and take steps to remove it. Her background in mission studies and evangelism sparked her desire to clean the area.

Reggie Mercado Sr., church member and codirector of the graffiti removal program, said he is motivated by his faith to reach out to the community.

"First of all, we want to remove what we consider a blight on the community," Mercado said. "Moorpark doesn't belong to [graffiti sprayers.] It belongs to everyone, and most everyone doesn't like graffiti."

Most of the graffiti is either profanity or monikers of gangs. Parcher solicited the help of the police department to help with graffiti removal. She contacted Bob Berger, Moorpark senior deputy and community services officer.

Notoriety and attention can result from graffiti, Berger said, which motivates the perpetrators.

"Sometimes taggers are just doing it for territorial reasons," Berger said. "They know people will see it. It gets attention. They probably don't perceive the impact of the light on the community that they're causing, which is unfortunate."

Several strategies were developed by Berger to reduce community graffiti by 25 percent within the next year.

One plan requires those who purchase spray paint show identification proving they are at least 18-years-old. Berger also would like to light the area more to discourage people from spray painting at nighttime.

Another program run by Fountain Foursquare is the annual WOW Jam, also directed by Parcher. The event is free of charge and provides bike repairs for children and raffles off prizes donated by sponsors.

The event has a faith message, as well, and allows attendees to learn about Fountain Foursquare and the work they do.

"If we band together, we can weed out these kinds of yucky things," Parcher said, referring to graffiti. "The goal is to physically and spiritually clean up the community and provide a beautiful, safe haven."