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DEEDS: Day of Caring volunteers tidy up, sow seeds of kindness [The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.](Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 30--Last year, 19 women left a Fredericksburg homeless shelter to move into permanent housing with their children. Most had entered Hope House with few possessions. Luckily, the transitional shelter for homeless women and children keeps donated furniture, linens and kitchen goods to help former residents turn their new spaces into homes. But those donated items were overtaking two sheds in Hope House's backyard. Friday, a group of Marines tackled the jumble--organizing pillows, princess toys, pot holders and picture frames. Marines are masters of taming clutter because they often have to pack with little time or space, Cpl. Ricky Cohen said as he stacked comforters. The handful of Marines at Hope House were part of a contingent of more than 250 volunteers who spent Friday helping local nonprofits ring in the 21st annual Day of Caring. The event has grown to encompass three days as volunteers fan out across the region. The Rappahannock United Way sponsors the event each year, recruiting teams of volunteers from local businesses, agencies and military bases. Last year, volunteers provided about $67,000 worth of work, RUW President Janel Donohue said. "They get to use their hands to make an impact," she said. Volunteer Cathy Chmielewski has served in 19 of those events. "I like to volunteer and to feel like I'm doing something for the community," said Chmielewski, who works in the information technology department of Stafford County. "And the projects are interesting. We've done everything from building a porch to cleaning kudzu." She and other Stafford County employees volunteered at the Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness and Recovery on Friday, landscaping the front yard and planting container gardens. Those container gardens--filled with cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli and Brussels sprouts--will help feed the house's residents, who are often in the throes of drug withdrawal. The home serves people who have substance abuse and mental health issues. "It's going to be really neat to pick our own vegetables and cook them," said Ivy Harrington, a residential counselor at the Sunshine Lady House. And the Stafford County employees said they were grateful to learn more about the treatment center, which they didn't know existed before Friday. "Every time we go out, we learn about a new resource in the community," said Camilla Jacobs as she and Chmielewski planted Swiss chard in clay pots. "Because we had no idea this was here," Chmielewski said. Stafford County employees made up one of 19 teams volunteering on 40 projects, Donohue said. Most of those projects were hands-on: mulching, painting, cleaning. The projects are important, but often get put on the back burner while nonprofit leaders focus on their day-to-day tasks, Donohue said. But not all projects involved getting dirty. At Micah Ecumenical Ministries, volunteers helped homeless people through mock job interviews. After a similar project last year, three interviewees got jobs, Donohue said. "That changes lives immediately," she said. "Day of Caring is not just about mulching and painting, it's about changing lives." Amy Umble: 540/735-1973 [email protected] ___ (c)2014 The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) Visit The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Va.) at www.fredericksburg.com/flshome Distributed by MCT Information Services |