Pike endorses ‘caring’ effort

By DAVID HULSE

MILFORD, PA — Scores of people in Pike County will be commemorating September 11 this year by volunteering their time to a community workday.

As in previous years, participants in Saturday’s fourth annual “Day of Caring” will undertake labor-intensive projects for the benefit of the county’s not-for-profit agencies, thus allowing them to free more funding for their mission services.

The United Way of Pike County sponsors the Day of Caring. United Way officials were on hand last Wednesday as the county commissioners approved a resolution of support and commendation for the program, which “so greatly benefits the people of Pike County and its non-profit service providers.”

Program co-chair Christine Obser said that 18 projects have already been scheduled for the day’s agenda. Last year, close to 200 volunteers donated more than 1,000 hours during the day in projects including, painting and repairing of facilities, mulching and marking trails, office filing and clerical work, organizing computer files, outside clean up and maintenance for disabled seniors and the stocking and organizing of storage areas.

The monetary value of the effort amounted to some $10,000.

Obser said some of the agencies benefiting from this year’s programs are the Pocono Environmental Education Center, Camp Speers-Eljibar YMCA, Survivors Resources and the Pike County Area Agency on Aging.

Volunteers are asked to provide both indoor and outdoor project plans as the day goes forward, rain or shine.

This year’s Day of Caring begins with a 7:45 a.m. breakfast for all volunteers at the Tom Quick Inn on Broad Street in Milford, which is being donated by the proprietors Abe Wohl and Jeanine and Gary Hodge. At breakfast, volunteers will receive their assignments and a Day of Caring t-shirt courtesy of Citizens Bank.

All volunteers are advised to arrive wearing work clothes and sturdy shoes and be prepared for a day of work. The workday will be underway by 9:00 a.m. and it runs through 3:00 p.m.

To volunteer, call United Way toll-free at 888/306-6963, or email to unitedwaypike@pikeonline.net.