United Way volunteers rake, weed, and mulch for annual Day of Caring
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (April 19, 2024) – Some of the area’s best-known historical sites and non-profit headquarters are looking even better because of the United Way of Tuscarawas County’s annual Day of Caring today.
The agency enlisted about 175 volunteers from 21 local companies and organizations to perform spring cleaning and other tasks at about a dozen sites such as the Dennison Depot, Trumpet in the Land, and the Salvation Army.
Elizabeth Lute with TuscoMFG was out with 10 or so of her co-workers at Historic Schoenbrunn Village raking, mulching, and planting new flowers.
“I did it last year and it was a blast,” Lute said. “The only difference, this year I got to bring my kids. So, they’re involved too. So, it’s a family event as well as a work event.”
Lute says it’s a tradition for her company as a way to give back.
Volunteers with Advocates for Success gather branches to make it easier to mow and eliminate tripping hazards at Schoenbrunn Village
Matthew Cummings is production coordinator with the exhibits department at the Ohio History Connection, which maintains Schoenbrunn. He says this makes a huge difference in getting ready for the season.
“Especially since a lot of this stuff is weather dependent, so a good critical mass of people like this definitely helps get a lot done in a short amount of time,” said Cummings.
Cummings says they had a large group from TuscBDD’s Advocates for Success there too picking up sticks that have fallen from all of the site’s trees since last season.
United Way Community Resources Coordinator Susan Reidenbach says companies seem eager to provide workers for the cause.
“We’ve recently seen a big interest in employee engagement opportunities. They’re looking to volunteer in the community, along with team-building activities at the same time,” Reidenbach said.
Reidenbach says whatever work couldn’t be completed today because of the weather will get pushed back to next Friday instead.
Volunteers spruce up the gift shop at Schoenbrunn Village for the United Way’s annual Day of Caring