The following article written by David Taube originally appeared in the Sept. 17th edition of the Beaver County Times. Used with permission.
CHIPPEWA TWP. — About 18 people helped at a year-round camp Wednesday, removing rotting wood from behind gutters on a ranger’s home, setting up a new fence around fire pits and taking down trees.
The volunteers at Camp Baker in Chippewa Township were just part of a 100-plus person effort through United Way of Beaver County’s Day of Caring, an annual event in which workers from more than half a dozen companies assisted with community-service projects.
“Everyone was having a great time,” said Stella Polletta, finance allocation director and Day of Caring coordinator for the local United Way. “The agencies were very appreciative.”
Service sites ranged from the YMCA in Rochester Township to the B.F. Jones Memorial Library in Aliquippa.
Workers who helped came from BASF, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Eaton Corp., FirstEnergy’s Bruce Mansfield Plant, Heritage Valley Health System and Michael Baker International.
New businesses participating this year included Labor Ready, Martin Fence Co. and The Primary Health Network, along with a volunteer from the office of Rep. Rob Matzie, D-16, Ambridge, Polletta said.
The outreach has been occurring for nearly 25 years, Polletta said.
Chuck Pinkerton, the ranger at Camp Baker, a Boy Scouts of America camp, had help from FirstEnergy, Columbia Gas and Heritage Valley workers and even his son, who repaired a drinking spout on the 163-acre camp and assisted in taking down trees.
Pinkerton has been at the camp for 25 years, and he said the service day often means he can tackle projects he couldn’t do all by himself.
CIGNA will have its own service day at a personal-care facility on Sept. 30.
