The list is long, but the volunteers are willing…..and more than 1,500 are expected to turn out Saturday morning to grab a coffee and muffin before heading out to work on Make A Difference Day 2009, Santa Clarita’s ninth annual involvement in a national day of service.

City Volunteer Coordinator Susana Coronel said that she’s received applications from people of all ages willing to do whatever’s needed and Coronel has almost 60 projects from which they can pick.

“I can’t even pick the top projects because they’re all important,” she said. “We have some returning agencies, like Carousel Ranch, LARC Ranch and Help the Children.”

The last group is running food drives at 14 different grocery stores, collecting food to be distributed to needy clients of their program.

“A lot of schools are doing cleanup and beautification projects, and painting projects,” she continued. “The City has several projects as well, there’s a community cleanup on Golden Valley for a mile-long stretch between Sierra Highway and Center Pointe Parkway. And we’re doing an oak tree planting as part of our Oaktober celebration.”

Looking at the list of 54 projects, it looks like volunteers will be spread out throughout the city and beyond.

Projects are planned at 18 different schools, 14 charities and four parks, as well as five locations where the City hopes to plant trees and clear debris from roads and walkways.

Anyone wishing to participate should go to the City’s website here, download the waiver form required of all participants and bring that to the Westfield Valencia Town Center, where all volunteers will check in, get their T-shirts and grab a quick snack before heading out to their job sites.

Long pants, sturdy shoes and work gloves are suggested, but if you’re planning to participate, Coronel has some words of wisdom: “Come ready to work.”