It was a hands-on, down-and-dirty day of physical labor for employees from Vernon Hills-based PNC Mortgage Corp. Instead of doing their regular jobs on a workday, 11 employees volunteered to handle cleanup chores at the Lake County Council Against Sexual Assault, a rape-crisis center in Gurnee.
Corporate volunteers were busy elsewhere too. They worked up a sweat at other local agencies, all participating in a United Way of Lake County program called Days of Caring.
Through Days of Caring, volunteers who contribute money to United Way can see firsthand the good that comes from their donations while helping with some of the often-delayed chores.
“People get a chance to actually see the programs in action,” said Doug Weber of Waukegan, president of the United Way of Lake County. “Volunteers give their time and talents to help the agencies with important projects. The response has been wonderful.”
In all, 824 volunteers and 65 volunteer team leaders tackled 73 projects at 29 local agencies. Originally, when the program began in 1994, all the projects took place on one day. This year the program lasted a month, from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, to give greater flexibility in scheduling. Agency executives acknowledged that they would not have been able to spend the time or money to tackle all the projects themselves.
“Without Days of Caring, these projects just wouldn’t happen,” said Cindy Ringer-Findlay, director of Volunteer Services at LaCASA. “At any given time, we have 70 to 100 volunteers doing direct service–working with rape victims. That is our No. 1 priority. While we want to keep our building nice, we just don’t have the time or resources to recruit a lot of volunteers for indirect service.”
LaCASA moved into a larger facility last year, offering comprehensive rape-crisis services. People served by LaCASA range from age 2 to 75 and represent every race, community and economic group in Lake County, according to their reports. Free services include crisis intervention and counseling, a hot line, medical advocacy, court advocacy, information and referral, and public education. Taking time away from crisis work to clean the windows just doesn’t happen, according to officials there.
Nevertheless, an orderly place is “important for us because our clients deserve a beautiful space,” Ringer-Findlay said. “Something horrible has happened to them. Their self-esteem has been ripped away. They deserve a warm and welcoming space that is special for them. Having a nice space validates them as people who deserve better.”
Jaime Topolski, human resources representative at PNC Mortgage, said that Days of Caring gives his employees “the tangible aspects beyond just pledging dollars. It’s exciting. Each year is a different project. We have more employees volunteering than there are spots available.”
Topolski, of Buffalo Grove, said, “We really like the idea of being involved in local projects. It’s exciting to be a part of several people doing something good.”
Beyond helping social service agencies and providing contributors a look at United Way projects, Days of Caring also provides team-building opportunities for the corporations involved.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said Mike Brady, assistant executive at Glenkirk Association for the Retarded, a Northbrook-based organization that helps more than 600 people with developmental disabilities, including clients in Lake County. “We have 48 (residential homes) and 28 group homes, along with schools, senior programs and workshops, all of which require a lot of upkeep. We prefer to use our resources for programs, not maintenance. So these volunteers are doing a great service for us, and they report back on the benefits of team-building.”
A team of more than 30 people from Abbott Laboratories in North Chicago recently painted classrooms at Glenkirk Options in Employment in Mundelein, which helps individuals with developmental disabilities develop basic job skills.
Gurnee resident Steve Johnson, who has led a team of Abbott volunteers for the last three years, took his crew to the Mundelein location this year. “Every year we’ve had a fantastic time,” he explained. “It’s team-building, because everyone works together on something besides our regular work.”
Abbott consistently is a major force behind United Way’s financial campaign, but Days of Caring offers employees a different perspective on giving. “It gets us in touch with people at the agencies who need help,” Johnson said. “We enjoy getting our hands dirty and helping people directly.”
Though Days of Caring lasts a month, the various agencies supported by United Way have needs year-round. United Way maintains a list of short- and long-term projects at all the agencies, jobs just waiting for volunteers.
Jerreau Beaudoin, vice president for marketing communications at United Way of Lake County, said, “With the modern focus on extracting meaning out of our work lives, companies are learning that employees who participate in community volunteer programs benefit as much as the non-profit agencies they help. The employees return to the workplace full of new energy and ideas and with a better sense of balance in their lives. Productivity can spike after a day spent clearing a trail, tutoring a child, painting a homeless shelter or hammering a new roof on a senior center.”
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For more information on volunteer opportunities, phone the Volunteer Center of United Way of Lake County at 847-816-0063.
