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Day
of Caring 2005 |
Community
members gathered together to help their neighbors during the
United Fund of LaGrange County’s second annual Day of
Caring.
Fifty-five people volunteered more than 325 hours on eight
different projects throughout the county.
“We are so grateful to our volunteers who made this
event a success,” said Robin Tuttle, executive director
of the United Fund of LaGrange County. “And we want
to thank their employers for giving them the opportunity to
make a difference in the community.”
A team of six led by carpenter Larry Garber built a wheelchair
ramp during the day for Theodore Potter, who was being released
from Miller’s Merry Manor the next day. Potter was in
an automobile accident in December and now requires a wheelchair.
Kuntry Lumber donated half of the cost of the project, with
the remaining donations resulting from LaGrange County REMC,
South Milford Church of Christ, and other sources.
“This year’s Day of Caring was made special by
the United Fund’s help with a wheelchair ramp for one
of our residents who was able to return home after a stay
here in our skilled nursing and rehab unit,” said Daniel
Gould, Social Service Director at Miller’s. “They
coordinated an effort with local businesses and churches to
make this happen after we made them aware of the need. They
stayed in contact with all of the parties involved, including
our resident’s family, and really facilitated this resident’s
ability to function at home. We can’t thank them enough
for helping our resident with this project.”
Employees from LaGrange County REMC, Farmers State Bank, LaGrange
County Division of Family & Children and Community Action
of Northeast Indiana, along with six United Fund board members,
participated in the event. Thirteen Howe Military School cadets
also volunteered for the day, as did several county residents
– some retired – who contributed their skills
and talents.
Volunteers folded and stuffed newsletters for the LaGrange
County Council on Aging, washed windows, tilled a garden and
helped with landscaping at Safe Haven and performed a variety
of tasks at the Clothes & Food Basket.
United Fund board member Brian Bunten of Nishikawa Standard
volunteered in the morning at Safe Haven, tilling the garden
there with the rental of a tiller donated at no cost by Shipshe
Rental Center owner Galen Miller. Bunten said that while he
hopes no one will need Safe Haven’s services, reality
says that someone will need help this year.
“My heart soars to think of the good works and comfort
that happen at Safe Haven,” Bunten said. “If the
clean and enjoyable surroundings provide some comfort to just
one troubled family, then the work and sweat was worth it
all.”
Four volunteers from the Topeka branch of Farmers State Bank
spruced up the town park in Topeka, another group of 10 FSB
employees stripped wallpaper and painted at Miller’s
Merry Manor and another five landscaped the LaGrange County
Courthouse lawn.
“The courthouse is such a beautiful, historical asset
for the LaGrange Community. It feels good to help keep it
that way,” said volunteer Stan Clark of FSB. “The
trees we planted this year will hopefully be there for all
our grandkids and maybe their grandkids, too.”
Cadets were busy with yard work and other tasks at Miller’s
Merry Manor, while another group of volunteers visited some
elderly residents’ homes to help with cleaning and other
indoor and outdoor odd jobs.
The Day of Caring was sponsored by Farmers State Bank, Nipsco,
Sprint and Lake City Bank.
“Farmers State Bank has always supported the United
Fund and we were very happy to have so many of our employees
want to volunteer their time to help in the Day of Caring,”
said Lori White, FSB senior vice president and United Fund
board member.
The
3rd annual Day of Caring will take place April 2006. If you
are interested in serving on the Day of Caring committee or
volunteering please contact us.
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