News release from the United Way of Allen County:
United Way Kicks Off 20th Annual Day of Caring
More than 1,100 Volunteers Working on about 75 Service Projects
(July 31, 2012) – Approximately 1,100 volunteers headed out into the community yesterday, August 2 for the 20th annual United Way Day of Caring. Teams from more than 60 local businesses, organizations and organized labor are rolling up their sleeves and working on more than 70 service projects throughout the Fort Wayne area. NIPSCO is the signature sponsor for this year’s Day of Caring.
The day kicked off with a breakfast at Headwaters Park West at 7:30 a.m. During the breakfast, volunteers gathered to learn about the service projects and how they impact the area as well as learn about the work of United Way of Allen County.
“Day of Caring really represents what United Way is all about”, says Todd Stephenson, president and CEO of United Way of Allen County. “Day of Caring is an annual event where people step outside of the office and into the community to make it a better place for everyone, particularly individuals in need.”
United Way’s Day of Caring gets volunteers directly involved in improving the community. This year, Day of Caring has a Live United theme; everyone working together to build a better community. Projects will include cleaning, painting and landscaping at non-profit agencies; private residences coordinated through NeighborLink; and child care centers, after-school youth program sites and schools.
Some of the projects included:
Caring for Child Care Centers:
Many businesses will be working at non-profit early education/child care centers that provide high-quality care for low-income children. BF Goodrich /USW Local 715 employees are building a sandbox, mulching, and weeding at Peace Montessori at 2315 Long Road and Parkview Hospital employees are cleaning up and painting the Early Childhood Alliance site at 2125 Beacon St. (Video interviews from the Peace Montessori project site.)
Painting for Kids:
Employees from Do it Best will paint indoors at SCAN, 2730 E. State.
Landscaping, Landscaping, Landscaping:
DWD employees will provide landscaping work on the grounds of Visiting Nurse & Hospice, 5910 Homestead Rd.; Hanson Aggregates’ crew will landscape at Headwaters Park West, 333 S. Clinton St.; and Frontier’s team will beautify Hope House at 1129 Garden Street.
Costume Call:
CANI volunteers will sort through and organize costumes, hats, and accessories for the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre at 303 E. Main Street.
Extreme Makeover—The Urban League:
GE employees are continuing a Day of Caring partnership with the Fort Wayne Urban League at their main facility at 2135 S. Hanna St. and the site of the new school across the street. They will replace furniture, build indoor gardens, and paint classrooms, a stage and exterior projects. They also plan to give a special gift for the new GE Science Lab at the school.
Feeding the Hungry:
ResCare volunteers will sort food items at the Associated Churches Food Bank, 602 E. Wayne St.
It’s a Party!
Park Center employees are organizing a carnival for Turnstone clients. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Turnstone, 3320 N. Clinton St. There will be games, music, food and much more.
Giving a Hand to the Homeless:
YWCA is teaming up with UPS to clean up, landscape, and paint both Genesis Outreach sites at 2812 Gay Street and 2605 Gay Street.
Cleaning up Camp:
Teams from Fort Wayne Metals and Regal Beloit will spend the day working at the Girl Scout’s Camp McMillen, located in Huntertown at 17107 Griffin Rd.
Helping a Homeowner:
Tower Bank staff will clean up the exterior at the home of a client, 3617 Logan Avenue.
Sprucing Up Schools:
Several Fort Wayne Community Schools will benefit from landscaping, painting, cleaning and book donations. IPFW will work at Adams Elementary, 3000 New Haven Avenue; Vera Bradley will work at Northcrest Elementary, 5301 Archwood Lane; Indiana and Michigan Power will work at Glendale Elementary, 4501 Vance; and NIPSCO will work at Study Elementary, 2414 Brooklyn Avenue.
Photos and video interviews from the Day of Caring
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