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This article was written by Jared Stonesifer, courtesy of the Beaver County Times

NEW BRIGHTON — More than 120 volunteers from companies across Beaver County came together Wednesday for the United Way’s annual Day of Caring.

Volunteers were spread out over 25 sites in the county, including the Big Brothers Big Sisters office on Third Avenue in New Brighton.  A handful of volunteers were on site, clearing leaves from the lawn and planting new bulbs. Other volunteers inside conducted electrical work in the attic of the building.

Paul Arch, an employee with Nova Chemicals who lives in Moon Township, said Wednesday was his first time volunteering with the United Way of Beaver County. “I’m trying to do more volunteer stuff, and I thought it would be a nice thing to do,” Arch said. “We have a nice day here, and people from different companies, and Big Brothers Big Sisters is a wonderful organization so I’m happy to come out here and do some work.”

For Amy Jonas, the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Beaver County, it’s hard to put into words what the volunteers mean. Like other non-profit organizations across the county, there isn’t necessarily the time or the money to spend on projects like these. “We needed this so bad,” Jonas said. “They are so gracious and want to do more.”

Mike Rubino, the executive director of the United Way of Beaver County, showed up as the volunteers were working and handed out small gifts as a token of appreciation. He said volunteerism is up by about 10 percent for this year’s Day of Caring over last year’s event.

“An event like this brings together the non-profit community and the for-profit community, and it utilizes the services and the skills of these volunteers,” Rubino said. “It’s nice to receive treasures that aren’t solely financial.”

 At the Center at the Mall senior center in the Beaver Valley Mall, Brian Davis of Beaver supervised a crew of volunteers who were completely repainting an exercise room. Program director Maureen Morelli said about 400 seniors use the exercise room weekly, and added that the paint job likely wouldn’t have been done without the help of volunteers.  “We run a non-profit here at the senior center and, over time, with the use of the rooms and the spaces we have available, we need some sprucing up and some brightening up,” she said. “The Day of Caring affords us an opportunity to accomplish that.”  For Davis, who works at Michael Baker International, the motivation behind volunteering was simple.  “I just like to help out and make a better community,” he said.

Rubino said any company interested in participating in the Day of Caring can still do so. He said companies around the county can sponsor their own Day of Caring at any time in the year.

Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact Rubino at the United Way’s office.

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