September 23, 2021

Community rolls up sleeves for annual United Way Day of Caring

BY Craig S. SemonWorcester Telegram & Gazette

WORCESTER – Whether it was sprucing up the grounds or slapping a fresh coat of paint to beautify the premises, an estimated 500 volunteers joined forces Friday for the United Way’s annual Day of Caring.

Wearing matching black T-shirts with the mantra “Stronger Together,” 36 corporate and community partners were slated to participate in 44 community service projects at 34 partner agencies.

Using paint rollers and a little elbow grease, Coghlin Companies volunteers slapped a fresh coat of paint on a 300-foot retaining wall at Worcester Housing Authority’s Lakeside Apartments, while the Leadership Worcester Class of 2022 dug holes and planted flower beds.

In all, 40 gallons of “serious gray” paint was expected to be used for the wall, while 100 new plants were placed in the ground, Shaun Flynn, assistant maintenance supervisor for the WHA, said.

“I enjoy working with volunteers,” Flynn said. “It’s great to get people out in the community and help us out a lot.”

Fallon Health representatives also did some volunteer work at Lakeside Apartments and Friendly House, and participated in a neighborhood cleanup around Community Healthlink alongside Community Healthlink volunteers.

Later in the day, WPI fraternity Alpha Xi Delta and Community Legal Aid volunteered were scheduled to help in the creation of new flower beds at the WHA.

“We’re really excited,” Erin Wilson, assistant vice president of resident services at WHA, said. “We’re really trying to beautify the property.”

Wilson said she was very appreciative of all the groups coming to the apartment complex and pooling their efforts.

“I love having volunteers on the property,” Wilson said. “I think our residents enjoy seeing that somebody comes and does something nice for their community. It’s beautifying. This helps us have a nice place for our residents to live.”

Virginia Conti, associate director of development at the United Way of Central Massachusetts, said last year it was difficult for her agency to have its Day of Caring due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic compounded by unpredictable New England weather.

So last year, United Way had volunteers doing mostly outdoor projects, a practice that they continue to do this year, Conti said.

Alpha Xi Delta, alongside fellow WPI fraternity Theta Nu Xi, also did some gardening work at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, while WPI fraternity Alpha Chi Rho did some clean-up work at AIDS Project Worcester Inc. and Open Sky Community Service.

The College of the Holy Cross volunteered its services to clean up Cookson and Gateway parks.

Several groups from UMass Memorial Medical Center and UMass Medical School volunteered at Belmont Street School, City View School, Genesis Club, GHNA Grant Square Garden, St. Joan of Arc, Tot Lot Playground, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Worcester Community Refrigerator and YOU Inc. Teen Program.

Unum volunteers did some outdoor beautification at Girls Inc. of Worcester and helped in the closing of YMCA of Central Massachusetts’ Camp Blanchard in Sutton.

Other volunteer groups and their worksites included Mastermans at Auburn Youth and Family Services in Auburn; Quinsigamond Community College at Belmont AME Zion Church; National Grid at Boys & Girls Club of Worcester; CS Energy and ProVerde Labs at Habitat for Humanity – MetroWest/Greater Worcester; Ramp Program at Hector Reyes House; Slatwall Commerce at Jeremiah’s Inn; Hanover Insurance at Mission E4; MassEDCo and Worcester Red Sox at Net of Compassion; Nativity School eighth-grade class at Pernet Family Health Service; Worcester Green Corps at Rainbow Child Development Center; LUK Inc., InHome Home Services and Elder Services of Worcester Area Inc. at Regional Environmental Council; Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester at Seven Hills Foundation in Holden; Worcester Railers and Worcester Renegades Board members at Worcester Renegades Youth Street Hockey; Webster Five at YMCA Greendale Family Branch; Justice Resources Institute at YWCA Camp Wind in the Pines; Kayanna James and Friends at Abby’s House,

On Saturday, volunteers of the Shrewsbury High School sports team will refurbish the dining hall benches at the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts’ Camp Laurelwood in Spencer.