Hundreds help on ‘Day of Caring’

For the Frontiersman

MAT-SU — As part of the United Way Day of Caring May 19, more than 200 people from 18 businesses and organizations volunteered at 13 nonprofit groups and completed 18 projects.

This is twice as many volunteers as last year and an increase in projects over previous years. To give their talent, businesses around the Valley allowed their employees to volunteer while still on the clock.

“The Day of Caring is just the beginning,” said Cherie LeBlanc-Shue, United Way of Mat-Su resource development director. “A person can enjoy that feeling of accomplishment and the knowledge that they are making a difference any time by just visiting the United Way of Mat-Su website and finding a project that fits their passion and skills.”

Aryne Randall left her desk May 19 along with others from Wells Fargo to beautify the Children’s Place.

“The Children’s Place had requested our windows to be cleaned and yard picked up,” said Children’s Place Administrative Coordinator Beth Hopper. “They went over and above by also bringing potted flowers and sprucing up the front of our building. … Not only can we enjoy it, but the families that visit our facility can also enjoy the bright array of colored flowers as they enter the building.”

Students from Wasilla Middle School spent time at the Wasilla Food Pantry washing shelves, windows and inside the refrigerator, as well as cleaning the truck used to transport food.

Following their experience, students wrote, “I felt appreciated and volunteering made me feel good,” that it helped “more because you don’t know if you are going to be one of the people in need one day,” and that “a single person can make a difference, and that is exactly what I did.”

Another group from Wasilla Middle School did landscaping at a local VFW post.

In Houston, the Gorilla Fireworks team painted the exterior of Mid-Valley Senior Center and in Palmer local Rotarians and Juvenile Justice staff washed and detailed Palmer Senior Citizen Center’s vans. At the Wasilla Area Seniors campus, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center raked and cleaned the yard areas.

Matanuska Telephone Association, a group that regularly volunteers, helped paint and organize the American Red Cross connex where emergency supplies are kept. First National Bank Alaska donated labor and materials to create a yard and repair the cement walk at Family Promise. Big Brothers Big Sisters have two freshly painted walls, thanks to a contingent from Target.

The other businesses and groups volunteering included Interiors by Mae, AlaskaUSA, Susitna Rotary, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Palmer Lions and Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and many individual participants. Benefiting nonprofits included Valley Charities (Turn-A-Leaf), CCS Early Learning, Co-Occurring Disorders Institute and Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su.