250 volunteers tackle 36 local projects in annual day of service
Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties representatives, from the left, Stacey Logwood, Andrea Lane, Adam Sorensen and Tammy Nicholl work to install plants Friday at a new pollinator garden located at Union Station, 613 Hamilton St. (EXAMINER PHOTO)
Logan County was bustling with volunteer activity Friday during the United Way of Logan County’s third annual Community Cares Day in which workplaces provided a labor force of approximately 250 people strong to tackle 36 worthwhile projects.
The teams converged on area non-profit agencies, parks, camps and other locales to complete work that will touch the lives of many in the weeks and months to come.
While working the soil at Union Station, volunteers from the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties and the Logan County Family and Children First Council said they were thrilled to have the chance to help install a pollinator garden at the 613 Hamilton St. facility.
“We knew we wanted to do something for Union Station because they have done so much for us; that’s why we specifically selected this location for our Community Cares Day project,” said Stacey Logwood, MHDAS director of community development.
“Union Station has been so good to provide us with meeting space when we need it, and provides so many excellent resources and activities for our clients and staff. We’re really enjoying our time being out here today planting the garden to share with them our appreciation.”
Kristin Strebig of The Studio: RTC’s Art Connection, which is housed at Union Station, developed the plans for the pollinator garden project during the past year after seeking guidance from the Logan County Master Gardeners and other local groups.
She said the chance to now have the garden installed within a few short hours is a wonderful feeling.
“We’re so grateful to the willing workers who we had here today; the many hands certainly made the planting go by quickly this morning,” she said.
“I can’t wait to see how this garden benefits the community.
We designed it to attract as many bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as possible, and it should attract those pollinators to the surrounding neighborhood as well.”
Volunteers installed a multitude of plants, flowers and herbs, including milkweed, coneflowers, chives, oregano, phlox, lilacs, irises, hostas, buttercups and many others according to the plans drawn out by Strebig at a location on the Union Station property that she scouted with Master Gardener representatives. Several area garden clubs, individuals and the Master Gardeners donated the plants for the space.
Complete story and more photos in Saturday’s Examiner.
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