Saturdays are a precious commodity; there are only so many and so much to do. But more than 400 volunteers gave half of last weekend as a gift to their community, along with a little elbow grease.
The volunteers arrived at the United Way of Will County’s Celebration of Community Caring Day kickoff at 7:30 a.m., then proceeded to 25 sites in Will County where they painted, planted, vacuumed, roofed, raked, washed, waxed, scraped and landscaped until their jobs were done.
The annual event matched area agencies with teams of volunteers. The agencies benefited, and the volunteers learned how those groups contribute to the community. The volunteer teams represented corporations, businesses, schools, service groups, Scouts and unaffiliated individuals who wanted to be a part of the effort.
A few of the agencies assisted were the Guardian Angel Home, C.F.M. Lamb’s Fold Christian Women’s Center, Aunt Martha’s, Cornerstone Services Inc. and Easter Seals.
Although it’s tied in with National Make a Difference Day, which is celebrated in October, Will County’s United Way effort was moved to September in hopes of catching better weather for the outdoor chores, said Jennifer Thonar, volunteer center coordinator.
For 15 members of the Joliet Kiwanis Club, it was a perfect day to plant perennials at Pilcher Park’s Nature Center in Joliet. The Kiwanis group has participated in the annual event since 1993.
“The Celebration of Community Caring is a great idea,” said Vince Portlock of Crest Hill, club president. “United Way has done all the planning. We just come out and work.”
Twenty volunteers from St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet added a coat of paint to a residence for Trinity Services, an agency that provides services to the developmentally disabled. For Joliet resident Evette Works, “Sharing and working within your community is important.”
Her daughters, Danisea, also an employee of the medical center, and Michelle, a student at Laraway Middle School, agree with their mother and come each year to help.
Although the one-day celebration is a great rallying point, it is by no means the entire effort, Thonar explained. Volunteer teams that include an additional 400 helpers will have completed projects at 65 sites before November. Because of scheduling, some groups worked as early as August.
That response has grown since 1992, when the first event drew 50 volunteers.
“Many people are supportive of United Way,” said J.D. Ross, chairman of the event and vice president of academic services at Joliet Junior College, “It’s important for people to see what these agencies do and to see how their dollars are put to use.”
