Volunteers help on Day of Caring
Published 11:07 pm Friday, September 13, 2013
More than 60 volunteers from local companies and the police department descended upon nonprofit organizations in Suffolk to help for the United Way’s 22nd annual Day of Caring on Friday.
Volunteers helped out at Children’s Harbor, the Children’s Center, ForKids and with a project at the Nansemond River.
About half of the volunteers in Suffolk were at the ForKids Suffolk House on Finney Avenue, where the organization’s Western Tidewater staff is based. The organization provides a rapid re-housing program, case management, a permanent supportive housing program for families with disabilities and a Hot Meals and Homework program for kids.
“I am blown away by the energy here,” said Carey Clow, development director for ForKids.
Volunteers from Birdsong Peanuts, Bank of America and Virginia Natural Gas mowed, mulched, planted, stained the front porch, organized donations, cleaned the building, washed vehicles and took out garbage.
“This is so exciting,” said Rebecca Myers, volunteer coordinator for ForKids, who also marveled at the cooperation among the groups. “They all have different shirts on, but they’re working together.”
The volunteers said they had fun doing the project.
“It’s been great fun,” said Victoria Duffer, an account executive for Virginia Natural Gas.
The company has been affiliated with ForKids for about 20 years, she added.
“We feel really close to the organization. It’s really the one day a year all our employees come together. We look forward to Day of Caring every year.”
Charlie Henderson, market president for Bank of America, said the three companies have something in common.
“I think he common theme is all three organizations have a commitment to the community,” he said. “If the corporate volunteers can take a day to help you do some of the housekeeping matters, it’s a win-win.”
Charles Birdsong of Birdsong Peanuts said the company encourages community volunteerism.
“We just think it’s a wonderful thing the United Way is doing,” he said. “Our company fully supports the United Way and our employees helping out.”
In addition to the ForKids projects, 20 volunteers from Dominion were set to help at Children’s Harbor Suffolk; five from Sentara at The Children’s Center; and eight from the Suffolk Police Department on the Nansemond River project, according to numbers provided in advance by United Way.