Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day is expected to draw almost 700 volunteers to help beautify the community on Saturday.

Volunteers will work at more than 40 sites in the city of Ypsilanti and in Ypsilanti Township, doing everything from cleaning up to planting flowers, with the goal of beautifying the area and boosting community pride, according to Julie Kedroske, Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day coordinator, who works at the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber.

According to the organizers, there is still time for people to sign up to volunteer.

Nearly 700 people are participating in Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day this year.

A number of groups, including students from Eastern Michigan University's VISION office, are participating in the event for the first time this year. Kedroske said volunteers from Google, The Corner Health, the Ypsilanti Housing Commission and others are expected to participate.

"We've been impressed with the outpouring of support," Kedroske said.

P.R.I.D.E. sites span all-around the city and township and include Frog Island Park, downtown and Depot Town, the Water Street site, SOS Community Services, Ford Lake and Ford Lake Park, and Prospect Park.

The P.R.I.D.E. program was founded by the 1995 graduating class of Leadership Ypsilanti and was the result of the class looking for ways to be leaders in the community and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the community.

"It's really about bringing the community together and working to beautify and do that together and show pride to a community they live in and work in every day," Kedroske said. "It’s a great way for the chamber to give back. We’ve had a really great experience."

The event is from 9 a.m. to noon and following the clean up, Kedroske said there will be a picnic at Recreation Park at 1001 N. Congress, next to Rutherford Pool. The picnic will last from noon to 2 p.m.

Those interested in volunteering who missed signing up can show up to any of the sites to participate, Kedroske said.

Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.