MSA workers pitch in during Day of Caring
CRANBERRY TWP — A number of MSA employees volunteered Friday for maintenance work at The Woodlands Foundation in Wexford as part of the company’s United Way Day of Caring effort.
The volunteers painted, raked leaves, cleaned out gutters and did other tasks.
The Woodlands Foundation is a nonprofit that helps those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, according to its website. It serves more than 8,000 people a year and partners with agencies and organizations to host camps, retreats and other programs.
Shannon Schreib, global human resources analyst with MSA, said company employees have gone to the Woodlands in the past to volunteer. Last year, the company decided to restart its Day of Caring effort since it had not taken part for a few years.
Schreib, who is the United Way chairman at MSA, said she came to the Woodlands last year and was amazed by the facility and the staff.
“It is just a great organization. They have a great mission, and they have been just wonderful,” she said. “You can really tell they’re inspired, and they do what they do because of how they are affecting the community in a positive way.”
Schreib said she was excited to help The Woodlands and to get other MSA workers involved.
“It means so much to this organization in particular,” Schreib said “We just have really great ties with them and a lot of people really believe in the cause.”
Schreib said she hoped the volunteers had an eye opening experience.
“Sometimes you can just go through your daily life and you don’t think about the struggles that some other people are going through,” she said.
Tim Carrera, MSA supervisor of graphic design, said helping The Woodlands was a worthwhile effort.
“I think it is great that we are helping out at this facility because it’s in our own backyard,” Carrera said. “They are basically our neighbors, and its kind of a neighborly feeling.”
Amanda Rittmeyer, who is in North American exports with MSA, said she, too, was excited to spend time with the United Way team and to help The Woodlands.
“It is very rewarding at the end of the day to know that you helped,” Rittmeyer said.
She said it is a nice way to spend the day.
“You just get a good feeling knowing you are helping people, and you are helping out local people too,” she said.
