Week of Caring efforts lauded
Some nonprofit organizations benefited this past week from volunteer efforts during the United Way of Butler County's 18th Week of Caring.
More than 250 volunteers worked at 13 projects in the county during that time.
Kathleen Treme, the United Way's labor liaison and Week of Caring organizer, said the week was a success.
“The volunteers did a lot of things to get the community ready for the winter months,” she said.
Treme said the volunteer efforts saved the community more than $45,000 in labor.
“They're all wonderful,” Treme said of the volunteers. “They're excited to help the project and help the community.”
The event was once a Day of Caring, but has been increased to a week.
“A week was more flexible,” Treme said.
The event also was in October this year as opposed to a September date in the past. Treme said the move worked better for the organizations involved.
Two of the places helped by the volunteer efforts was the Preston and Sawmill Run parks in Butler Township.
Dave Zarnick, a township supervisor and leading organizer of the efforts, said the parks had a lot of work done.
“It's just fantastic,” he said. “They get done what would've taken us a year to complete.”
In what was the week's largest effort, nearly 90 volunteers from UAW 3303, Northwest Savings Bank, CW Howard Insurance, Linde LLC, Peoples TWP, UWUA 242, and AGR spent different parts of the week at the parks.
Zarnick said workers built a new bridge, cleared trails and cleaned buildings at both parks.
He said without the annual campaign the parks would not be the same.
“It's very beneficial,” he said. “We would not be able to maintain the park at the same level without it. We just don't have the help available normally.”
The two parks span nearly 200 acres and feature trails and picnic areas.
“It's a lot to maintain,” Zarnick said.
The Butler County Historical Society also received help completing projects it otherwise wouldn't have been able to do.
Pat Collins, the director of the society, said eight volunteers from Oberg did extensive yard work at the Senator Walter Lowrie House Museum.
“It was wonderful,” she said. “They helped us get done things we otherwise wouldn't have had the time or ability to accomplish.”Collins said the volunteers trimmed bushes and weeds around the museum, and then helped clean inside the building.It wasn't the first time the historical society benefited from the Week of Caring, and Collins said it won't be the last.“We've been participating for quite a few years,” she said. “And we'll absolutely want to again.”As for the United Way, Collins said she is appreciative of its efforts.“I think it's priceless,” she said of its work.Kevin Brown, the American Red Cross' community chapter executive for Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties, agreed.“It's an absolutely wonderful service,” he said.Volunteers from the Butler County Human Services helped the Red Cross in Butler clean and organize its office.“It's particularly a benefit for organizations like the Red Cross that depend so much on volunteers,” Brown said.“The United Way did a wonderful job organizing everything, and we really appreciate the work they put into it.”It's work that Treme said she was happy to help organize.“It's a great honor to get to help volunteers connect with the projects,” she said.<B>HOW TO DONATE</B>The United Way of Butler County’s 18th Week of Caring that just ended is part of the United Way’s annual fundraising campaign.This year it seeks to raise $1.65 million to help fund numerous community agencies and organizations.To donate, call the United Way at 724-285-4883 or visit www.butlerunitedway.org.
