Day of Caring 2010
Wednesday, September 15th
Day of Caring 2009
Day of Caring agencies express gratitude to area volunteers
PIONEER VALLEY, October 19 -- With the help of
1,200 volunteers who endured heavy rain, this year’s United Way of
Pioneer Valley Day of Caring was a tremendous success.
But that assessment wasn’t just from United Way organizers.
More than 50 agencies and organizations from across the region wrote to
the United Way following the Sept. 11 event to extend their thanks and
appreciation.
The Day of Caring is an initiative to help charitable agencies
who are in need of assistance with maintenance, office work, painting
and many other projects. The event pairs employee volunteers with
agency service providers to accomplish a variety of projects that
improve the community.
The scope of community impact from the Day of Caring extends
well beyond just one day of volunteer support, said Chris Daniels, the
UWPV Day of Caring program coordinator.
Daniels said she was overwhelmed with the feedback and expressions of gratitude she received from community organizations.
“It’s heartwarming to see the appreciation extended to the
volunteers who worked hard that day,” said Daniels. “We hope this
rewarding experience extends to other volunteer opportunities in the
community throughout the year.”
Here, in their own words, were the comments sent to the UWPV
along with photos shared with the UWPV from various agencies. In
addition, a complete list of businesses that provided volunteers for
the Day of Caring and key sponsors is provided on this page as well and
can be immediately accessed by clicking here.
“Thank you to everyone – our sponsors, participating
businesses, and volunteers – who made the 2009 Day of Caring a huge
success,” said Daniels.
Day of Caring Feedback
Comments received by participating agencies
Everything was great here at CCDC!!! All of the volunteers really outdid themselves! We appreciate it, as always.
Joan & Alissa
Chicopee Child Development Center
So today we had a lovely group of five and
they did a great job of shopping our non-perishables, which was very
helpful. I think they had a good time too.
Laura Foulkes
Community Enterprises (Springfield)
Just wanted to let you know that our
volunteers were awesome! They all came and worked the landscaping,
building and even spreading of mulch in the rain. I visited all of our
sites and every project was going well. Our schools were so happy they
could accomplish so much in a day.
Barbara
Volunteers in Public Schools of Westfield
We are all thrilled and overwhelmed by the
incredible volunteers that spent their day with us... they are amazing
individuals! They undertook every task we gave them, completed the
tasks with expertise and precision, and showed a great camaraderie and
team spirit.
And they are great folks, too. On behalf of the staff, the
Board of Directors, and all the kids who will enjoy the "New Museum,"
THANK YOU!
Mary Paz
Children’s Museum of Holyoke
Top Floor Learning had three tremendous
volunteers from MassMutual who stuffed envelopes and folded flyers, as
well as collating reports for our Annual Meeting. We really appreciate
the connection with MassMutual and the United Way. Thanks for
organizing the day so efficiently.
Margaret Boyko
Top Floor Learning
Our crew, Team Howard and Marta (the ringer),
far exceed our expectations. They worked non-stop at our less than
glamorous project and it was a dirty job. There were some tasks we
weren't even sure we would ask them to do that they completed with a
smile! This was a terrific experience and we couldn't be more grateful.
Christine Burns
Development/Special Projects
Providence Ministries for the Needy, Inc.
Here at the Volleyball Hall of Fame we are
very thankful to our Volunteers from BayState and to the United Way for
the assistance and expertise that they brought to us today. We
accomplished some cleaning and painting, some exhibit repairs and
replacement, all while experiencing the company of some wonderful
people.
Thanks to all.
Jerry Fitzsimons
Executive Director
Volleyball Hall of Fame
Thank you to our United Way volunteers. We
now have a bright and colorful entrance to our day care. We also have a
big balloon sailing through our family therapy treatment room. Our
volunteers from Smith and Wesson were happy and friendly and very
willing to work.
Thanks girls. We really appreciate your help.
Nora Miller
Office Manager
MSPCC
I cannot say enough about the MassMutual crew
that spent the day at the NEARI School building a computer room
separating wall/door and completing work on the deck of our outdoor
play space for elementary special needs' children. In spite of the
rain, the crew just "cranked" all day and finished everything right on
the stroke of 4:30 p.m., the designated departure time. This is such a
gift to us as a small non-profit for which we are deeply grateful.
It's a day to which I really look forward....the spirit, hard work, physical exercise,comraderie....so what's not to like! :-)
THANK YOU, United Way and Mass Mutual!
Steve Bengis
NEARI School
It went great -- we could not have asked for
any better volunteers. We planted 4 trees at the intersection of Pine,
Florence and Central Street. Go by and take a look sometime.
We had a blast working with this group from MassMutual and
Cambridge Credit Counselors. They really worked hard in the rain and
mud. Thanks again and look forward to working with the United Way
sometime soon again.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Tully
Senior Parks Project Manager
Springfield Parks Department
We had an excellent team from
Baystate Health Systems led by Dan Bacigalupo. Eight people showed up
and they "moved mountains" in the rain, doing tons of work with nary a
complaint! Fantastic! Thanks so much for getting Day of Caring
organized. We'd love to have them back again next year! Have a great
weekend!
Marjorie Latham
Wistariahurst Museum Events
JELUPA is so thankful to the
awesome job that our group from Monarch Life did on disassembling,
cleaning and reassembling 80 stage lights of various sizes. We had a
great day! Thank you again for the extra hands to accomplish what they
did in one day what would have taken us weeks.
Sincerely,
L'Kuicha
Jelupa Productions, Inc.
The MassMutual crew that showed
up at the YMCA’s Camp Weber was awesome!!! Despite the threat of rain
they jumped right to the projects and completed all, even the exterior
painting of the Camps Office building. This was the second year that
the same group chose Camp Weber and hopefully they will return next
year. I “promise” sunny skies.
Thanks,
Bill Dierken
YMCA of Greater Springfield
The group from Baystate Health,
led by Annamarie, worked as a team, worked diligently (and I think they
had a little fun along the way) to get the job done. We had eleven
volunteers who worked all day long to get things done; that’s about 88
man hours that the YWCA just wouldn’t be able to find. No matter how
simple the task or insignificant it may seem to the volunteers, it is
an invaluable service to our organization and the volunteers should be
proud of their accomplishments!!
Susan E. Morse
Director of Facilities Management
YWCA of Western Massachusetts
The children at the YMCA in
Springfield want to send a great big Thank You to Lorraine and her
Baystate Medical Team for painting their classrooms. The school age
children were amazed at how cleaned and bright their classrooms look.
On behalf of all the children who will use these classrooms thank you.
Juanita Booker
Director
YMCA Magic Years Child Development Center
I just want to let you know how
pleased we were to have such a great group from MassMutual helping us
on the Day of Caring. They worked very hard and finished the project.
We enjoyed having them here at “the house that love built.” Wonderful
team.
Suzanne Herlihy
Ronald McDonald House
The Comcast Crew was awesome! They did a fabulous job @ The Parent information Center!
Ms.Nealon Jaynes-Lewis
NCLB Administrator
Springfield Public Schools
The Gray House was fortunate to
have an indoor project scheduled for last Friday so we kept it and had
a wonderful afternoon with the Springfield Housing Authority
volunteers. Our lead person, Keith Barlow, is a painter and his crew
did a fantastic job sprucing up our 130 year old house.
Jesse Regnier
The Gray House
Our team from Belt Technologies
were wonderful; they were well organized, friendly and great workers. I
did not think we would finish but they did before time. Thank you so
much for the help in preparation of our book sale.
Margaret O'Donnell
Valley Radio Reading Service
We had both Western Mass
Electric Company and the Young Professional Society joined us for the
Day of Caring, on two different work sites. Both groups did a terrific
job, and I think they had fun in the process!
Nicole Williamson
Donor and Volunteer Coordinator
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
AWESOME!!! I can't think of a
better word to describe the volunteers we had at the Scantic Valley
YMCA Child Development Center on Friday. They were eager to get
started the moment they arrived. Thanks to them, the children were
able to look out sparkling clean windows and screens, sleep on freshly
washed nap cots, and even the baby gates were cleaned. Even with all
that to do our volunteers found time to go into our classrooms and read
to the children and play dress up with the toddlers. Our team leaders,
Christine from L.E. Belcher and Karen from MassMutual were fantastic as
were their team members. Thank you L.E. Belcher, MassMutual, and
United Way for working so hard for our children.
Sincerely,
Janalee Bachand, Director
Joyce Stavros, Assistant Director
Scantic Valley YMCA Child Development Center
Hello. Thanks again to all of
the ladies that came over to Stony Brook Acres. We greatly appreciate
all that you did for us. If there were not organizations that got
together to do this, I do not know how we would get our camp cleaned
up. The overwhelming sense of willing to do anything that’s needs to
get done is great. So I thank again those that came to SBA and any
other person who volunteered on Friday!
Kelly O'Malley
Youth and Camping Director
Scantic Valley YMCA
We had 5 GREAT Mass Mutual folks
here at the Red Cross on Cottage Street, Springfield. They worked hard
and completed important organizational tasks and cleaning. We really
appreciate the extra hands to put things in storage and get things
organized and ready for another busy year. THANKS to United Way for all
of the coordination!
Brenda Brouillette
Pioneer Valley Chapter American Red Cross
We had a great group from
MassMutual who decided to work on our landscaping project despite the
rain. They weeded and trimmed bushes and then spread a mountain of
mulch to give our adult day health center a fresh and tidy look. Many
thanks to the whole crew from MassMutual and to the United Way for
coordinating such a great day of caring.
Peggy McKinstry, Director
Mercy Adult Day Health of Westfield
We had a great day of
caring--even in spite of the rain! Volunteers were here early and
ready to get started. I'm so amazed each year at how glad the groups
are to help us. Some were involved in task-oriented projects, while
others spent quality time with our residents. Thank you so much
MassMutual, Hamilton-Sundstrand, Bay State Medical and Babson
Capital!!!! We look forward to you all coming back next year.
Beverlyn Blanchard
Volunteer Services Department
Soldiers' Home in Holyoke
Thank you to all the volunteers
that came to help Amelia Park Children's Museum with several large
projects throughout the day on September 11th.
The staff, Board and, of course, our visitors all
appreciate the time and effort you spent in completing 4 projects
during the day of caring. APCM got some excellent paint touch ups
throughout the museum, hundreds of membership renewal letters stuffed
and ready to be mailed out, two temporary exhibits installed and the
entire museum reorganized for better use of our space. I want to thank
the volunteers who specifically requested to come back to the museum
for this year, and I hope to see them again at next year's event!
Without these wonderful volunteers' help, APCM would not be where it is
today.
Thank You,
Kathryn Ott, Programming & Gallery Supervisor
Amelia Park Children's Museum
We had our MassMutual group back
again this year; I think this is our 3rd or 4th year with them. They
are a wonderful group who always do a great job and really seem to
enjoy the experience. We certainly enjoy seeing these folks each year
and really appreciate the great work that they do. We are so pleased
that they like to come here each year volunteering to help our club
better serve its members.
Garrett J. McCarthy, Executive Director
Springfield Boys & Girls Club
On Friday September 11th, 14
United Way Volunteers from Baystate Medical Center were here at the
Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Greater Holyoke. The group was here ready
to go by 8:45. I must admit we had way too much fun. The group led by
Jen Barrett was made up of a close knit group from Baystate that work
together in Patient Access.
Our project was to create a life size Gingerbread House
for an upcoming fundraiser to support a Christmas event aimed at
providing the children in Western Massachusetts with a magical
Christmas experience. From full size nutcrackers to gumdrops and
gingerbread men, we were busy all day. I can’t say enough about the
crew and would welcome them back again next year to build upon this
magical village they started to create.
Sincerely,
Susan Kelley, Volunteer Coordinator
Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Greater Holyoke
After 3 years of picnicking at
the Stanley Park Pavilion in Westfield, the team from MassMutual,
headed by Deb Taylor, has this United Way Day of Caring event down! On
behalf of the visually impaired clients MAB serves, thank you all.
When a 100-year-old client comes out, despite the rain and cold, you
have to know this is something good! Judith F. Kennedy, MSW, LCSW
Western MA Regional Director
MAB Community Service
We had wonderful help from our
volunteers from the Springfield Housing Authority and MassMutual. They
graciously shifted projects from outdoor gardening to doing a great
deal of the shopping for our upcoming client picnic. Their energy and
spirits were terrific! We are very appreciative!
Laura Foulkes, Director of Community Enterprise
Springfield Housing & Supports
The Trustees of Reservations
hosted four groups of intrepid volunteers from MassMutual outdoors at
four sites—Little Tom, Land of Providence, and Dinosaur Footprints in
Holyoke, and at Peaked Mountain in Monson. They clipped, lopped, and
pulled large swaths of invasive shrubs and other plants at all
locations to benefit our native plants and improve the views of the
landscape. At Land of Providence they cleared massive piles of brush
in preparation for our public dedication on September 23rd. Everyone
worked hard through the mist and showers and did an incredible job! As
the rain got heavier we ended the day early around 1 pm for all the
projects because everyone was damp and feeling positive and we didn’t
want to reach the stage of getting soaked and feeling negative!
THANK YOU!
Cynthia Sommer, Administrative Assistant
The Trustees of Reservations
Here at the Holyoke Public
Library we are very grateful to our Volunteers from Holyoke Housing
Authority and to the United Way for the assistance that they brought to
us last Friday. Despite the rain, we accomplished some cleaning while
enjoying the company of some wonderful people.
Thanks a million to all who participated and made this event a success!
Maria G. Pagan, Library Director
Holyoke Public Library
We had a terrific group here at
the Agawam Counseling Center from MassMutual. It was our second year
with the same group and they are wonderful. They work hard and never
complain. They did a lot of painting for us as they have done in the
past. I have told them that it is like having a professional painting
crew here. We greatly appreciate their hard work and thanks to the
United Way for coordinating such a great event.
Dawn Darasz
Agawam Counseling Center
We are so thankful here at Camp
Fire USA, Camp Nawaka to have had a wonderful crew from Bay State
Health System come to assist us with closing down our camp for the
season. Our crew led by Ron Remillard was a pleasure to work with.
The group happily worked with us in the rain and we were able to
accomplish everything we had hoped!!
Our thanks go to Bay State for allowing their employees to
participate in this Day of Caring. Thank you United Way for
coordinating this event! It means the world to your partner agencies!
Best Regards,
Cindy Courtney
Camp Fire USA
As usual, the volunteers were
excellent! They were fun and accommodating. We got so much done. I
know one of the volunteers commented that she felt they didn't do
enough because the task was so large. We have over 100 boxes to
shred! The day was a great success. Thank you so much for letting
River Valley be a part of such a wonderful opportunity.
Nancy J.G. O'Hare, MPH
Program Director
Women Seeking Safety Project
River Valley Counseling Center, Inc.
We had a great group of
volunteers from Mass Mutual. They came prepared with gloves, shovels
& racks. This is the first time we had all men in the group &
they planted 120 mums on our campus. Their interaction with the
residents was great!!! They really made the residents feel they had an
important role in helping them with the day. They’re already talking
about projects for next year!!! Thank you to all for making this day a
great one, even if the weather was not too cooperative.
Thanks!
Deb DeSanctis
Loomis House
Despite the rain we had a great
turn out and very productive day at Camp Bonnie Brae. The teams from
MassMutual said they weren't afraid to work in the rain and proved that
on Friday. They are a wonderful group to work with and competed all
that was planned for the day and more. Many of the volunteers have
been coming to CBB for years and I hope to see them again next year.
Thank you MassMutual and United Way for all the planning and hard work
that made Day of Caring a success.
Wayne Fisher, Site Supervisor
Camp Bonnie Brae
Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts
We had an AWESOME, Busy and Fun Day!!
Once again Hamilton Sundstrand came to repair, fix and
reorganized the CHD's Disability Resources Programs adaptive sports
equipment! Because of the United Way’s Day of Caring, this day saved
the program every year anywhere between $3,000-$6,000. I would like to
thank them!! We also got a nice donation from Grand Lumber in
Belchertown, MA, to be able to make our storage more user friendly.
Check out the picture of our Storage that was built. Thanks again to
United Way, Hamilton Sundstrand and Grand Lumber. Without you, we would
not be able to do what we do all year long.
Have a Great day and get out there & have fun.
Nancy J. Bazanchuk, Disability Resource Program Director
Center for Human Development (CHD)
Hi all,
We also had a great morning at the Springfield JCC
Preschool. The children and teachers love the extra attention. There
is nothing like an extra pair of hands and eyes in a classroom. We are
ready for next year!! Thanks again to the United Way for setting up the
Day of Caring.
Be well,
Deb Cohen, Director of Early Childhood Services
Springfield JCC
With no money in the current budget for cleaning services,
I got permission from the Mayor and our Board of Directors to close the
Westfield Senior Center for the day so that we could do a MAJOR autumn
cleaning. Our eight-member TEAM HEALTH NEW ENGLAND did a fabulous
job. The Senior Center has never been so clean. With five staff
members working alongside the volunteers, we got more creative as the
project progressed. Furniture was moved around, decorations added, and
morale boosted. I thanked each volunteer profusely, but I’m not sure
that they understood the importance of the work that they did. We’re
on a main street so the facility was beyond dirty... it was grimy.
When the volunteers arrived, we formed teams and started to tackle
projects. We accomplished everything that I had hoped for... and
more! Thank you for organizing this event and allowing us to
participate. The staff came in this morning beaming as they proudly
showed off our “new” Senior Center to our “regulars.”
Tina Gorman, Interim Director
Westfield Council On Aging
I will like to say that the staff here at Chestnut Street
site really enjoyed the volunteers- Day of Caring. Everyone had a great
time. The volunteers read to the children, interacted and played with
the children .We really appreciate them. The staff here at Chestnut
Street staff -- everyone -- will like for me to say thank you to the
volunteers. Thank you again!
Vernita Reid, Center Director
Square One
They did a fantastic job painting the entrance way and
stairwell to our Parent Services and Programs Department building on
Friday September 18th. Due to a business conflict they had to
reschedule from the original Day of Caring date…however that did not
deter their enthusiasm and dedication to the project. We are overjoyed
with the results!
Laurie-Beth Thivierge, Executive Assistant to the President/CEO
Square One
Now I know the meaning of the expression "the power of
one." On Friday, I had one wonderful volunteer. It was good to get to
know her one-on-one. Jessica made my life easier that day and this last
week before our Homework House students arrive. Their world will be
that much brighter because of the power of one Jessica from MassMutual
who cared and served. Thanks for responding so efficiently to last
Thursday's call.
Peace,
Sister Jane
Homework House
I've just sent thank-you notes to the three great
volunteers from MassMutual who helped bring order to our Costume Shop
last Friday. Greta Breglio-Redman, our customer, greatly appreciated
their hard work and humor, and thanks to them, she had the support team
necessary to tackle this long over-due project. Thank you for including
the Drama Studio in this remarkable service to the community. We hope
you'll consider us next year!
Cordially,
Steve Hays, Director
Drama Studio
The United Way group from Mass Mutual was great. They
painted our conference room; ceiling, trim and walls, and had time to
do two coats. They were very interested in The Care Center and we had
a great time. Thanks to David, Kate, Michelle, John, Tom and Cathy.
Mark @ The Care Center
On behalf of Dora Robinson and the Martin Luther King Jr.
Community Center, Inc. we would like to say thank you for coordinating
the Day of Caring. We had wonderful volunteers who worked hard and
were dedicated. Our thanks to Mass Mutual, Bay State Health,
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services, Inc. , Monarch Life
Insurance Company, ET Services, Capital One. Mr. Al and Mike (put
together the kitchen cabinets). We had over forty (40) volunteers and
we used and needed all of them.
We are sending out thank you cards and cannot say thanks
enough for a job well done. Our youth have a clean new look at the
Center with the painting as well as new cabinets for the kitchen area.
We also have a clean freshly painted building at our Family Life
Center. Our volunteers moved our Food Bank from one location to
another along with Refrigerators and Freezers. No Easy Task and they
did it without complaining. Last, but definitely not least, to our
crew who cleaned the basements: thank you for cleaning up the
basements, throwing away unnecessary items and putting your final
touches on it. We now have lots of space for storage. We hope to see
all of you next year!
Thanks,
Tangala Sales, Day of Caring Coordinator
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Inc.
I thought I would share this awesome photo our volunteers.
From Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.: (not necessarily in order of appearance in photo)
Donna Roundy, Steve Kaplan, Janet Karapysh, Cheryl Fitzgerald, Michelle Leaper, Jen Reynolds, Dan Eger & Kristi Reale
2009 Day of Caring Volunteer Organizations
AAA Pioneer Valley, Inc.
Atlantic Fasteners
Baystate Health
Belt Technologies, Inc.
Cambridge Credit Counseling Corporation
Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
Comcast
Community Foundation of WM
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Hamilton Sundstrand, Local 743
Harry Grodsky & Co. Inc.
Hasbro
Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative
Health New England, Inc.
Holyoke Housing Authority
JC Penney
Kostin, Ruffkess & Company, LLC
Leonard E. Belcher, Inc.
Marox Corporation
Mass. Department of Developmental Services
Mass. Municipal Wholesale Electric Company
MassMutual Financial Group
Mayberry Material Handling
Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.
Monarch Life Insurance Co.
North American Energy Alliance
OMG, Inc.
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)
Sisters of Providence Health System
Sisters of St. Joseph
Smith & Wesson, Inc.
Southworth Company
Springfield Housing Authority
Springfield Technical Community College
The Bank of Western Massachusetts
United Bank
Westfield Bank
WGBY-TV
Young Professionals Society of Greater Springfield
Bold denotes key sponsors
Read about the 16th Annual Day of Caring held on Friday, September 11, 2009
TWO NEW STORIES!
**United Way Day of Caring Helps 50 Agencies**
**United Way Campaign Reaches Basketball Fans**
A volunteer helps with a school project at Westfield’s Franklin Avenue
Elementary School during the United Way of Pioneer Valley’s Day of
Caring (Photos by Joe Aberdale).
United Way Day of Caring helps 50 Pioneer Valley agencies
SPRINGFIELD, Sept. 14, 2009 -- More than 1,100 volunteers came together Friday, Sept. 11, to help the United Way
of Pioneer Valley kick off its annual campaign by aiding more
than 50 local nonprofit agencies and schools in the United Way's 16th
annual Day of Caring event.
