Record-breaking volunteer event kicks off United Way campaign
A record 400 volunteers packed into the Logan County Fairgrounds grand stand Friday morning for a rousing pep talk and United Way of Logan County 2022 campaign kick-off, which currently stands at $300,772 toward its $1.1 million goal.
The corporate volunteers from 40 area workplaces then traded their normal tasks, tools and attire for service projects and green T-shirts. They headed out to all four corners of Logan County to complete 48 pre-coordinated service projects for local non-profits and parks for the United Way’s seventh annual Community Care Day.
“It is so inspiring to see so many workplaces represented in full force for a volunteer work day like this,” United Way Executive Director Dave Bezusko said. “When so many are working short-staffed, for teams to make it a priority to devote a day of service to our community, well that just embodies the spirit of Logan County. With a start like this, I can’t wait to see what the 2022 Campaign has in store for us.”
With a brush coated in white paint in one hand, Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler stood on a ladder outside the Logan County History Center as he and his team did their part to brighten up the wrought-iron fence on the east side of Orr Mansion.
But the work didn’t keep him from boasting about the level of local participation.
“We’re the smallest community in Ohio to raise over $1 million dollar for the United Way four years in a row,” he said. “It really says something about the people here that this is the response.”
Stahler was especially grateful to the area businesses for their generosity.
“They pay their associates on the clock, but rather than their usual day-to-day tasks, they’re helping their neighbors,” he added.
While trimming hedges, painting a deck and applying new parking lot striping at New Path Pregnancy Resource Center’s Bellefontaine office, volunteers from the Mental Health & Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties also noted their gratitude to their community for stepping up to the plate.
“Logan County is a great place to live; we are really fortunate to have so many here who care about their community,” MHDAS Board Executive Director Tammy Nicholl said.
“It was amazing to be part of the event this morning at the fairgrounds grand stand.
Dave (Bezusko) gave a passionate talk and really pumped us up. We are happy to lend our support to this project.”
Nicholl said the MHDAS Board has been a part of the Community Care Day now for six years, “almost since the very beginning.”
“Now we have the ‘Live United’ T-shirts in almost every color of the rainbow. We look forward to it each year.”
The director was accompanied by her staff members Adam Sorensen, who climbed onto the roof of New Path PRC to brighten the exterior with power washing equipment, along Ceci Yelton and Amy Metz, who lended their talents around the building as well.
At Shawnee Springs, volunteers from the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities representatives assembled an outdoor pergola, with the help of Maintenance Director Kyle Heffner. Volunteer Mark Mitchell excitedly listed the many places he’s been able to help out through Community Care Day in recent years — from the DeGraff Park to Green Hills Community, West Liberty Fire Department, The Recovery Zone and another site at Indian Lake.
Shawnee Springs Housing Manager Randi Ratliff said the pergola behind the facility will be put to good use by the residents – who enjoy cookouts and other activities on the back patio area. She explained that the residents voted among three potential projects for this outdoor space, and the pergola won the overwhelming majority vote.
“It is going to be really nice for them to have some cover and shade out here and be able to enjoy this space even more,” said Heffner, while guiding Mitchell and fellow volunteers Rose Canter, Keith Weber and Chad Johnson through the process of assembling the pergola structure.
At the nearby Holland Theatre, employees from NX Automotive Logistics USA signed up to vacuum the new seats at the theatre but quickly hit a snag.
“The Dustbusters™ lost the charge quickly,” team leader and NXAL HR coordinator Kati Roby said, “so we’re figuring out other things to do.”
Those “other things” included washing windows in the front doors, polishing the woodwork and poster frames in the lobby, sweeping the balcony floor and dusting.
“The theater is gonna sparkle when we open the new season,” commented Kris Swisher, Holland Theatre board president. “It gives us all a burst of energy to have other people here who care about the house.”
Employees from Community Health & Wellness Partners of Logan County had their work cut out for them as they tackled several projects at Union Station, including painting, digging up a neglected herb garden and moving numerous cinder blocks.
On the other side of the building, Susie Steggeman and Jess Oder with Belletech Corporation were just returning from delivering six meals to senior residents in Bellefontaine.
“Jess has such a perky spirit, the elderly were happy to see us,” Steggeman said. The women made up one of four teams — along with other Meals on Wheels volunteers — who provided food to community members Friday morning.
Along the Meals on Wheels routes, Scotts Miracle-Gro employees Damon Dixon, Corey Richey and Lionel Mitchell enjoyed their time volunteering as well.
“It is amazing to see the number of individuals who can stay in their homes and benefit from the meal program,” Dixon said while the trio stopped at a north Main Street residence in Bellefontaine. “It’s been a fun time this morning.”
After spending the morning painting the pump house building and picnic tables at Hoffman Pool, Bellefontaine, team members from Daido Metal USA, Inc. were ready for their next project — lunch at Brewfontaine.
“We try to do something different every year,” employee Kelsie Fultz said. “And we try to do outside projects.”
Since their project last year involved moving 20,000 pounds of gravel, during which they “worked their butts off,” the team, which has participated in Care Day for five years now, was ready for something a little less strenuous.