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United Way launches fundraising campaign with ‘Day of Caring’

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Volunteers build a new entryway into the East Wilton Grange during the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area’s Day of Caring.

WILTON – The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area officially launched its 2011-12 Annual Fundraising Campaign Sept. 10 with a Day of Caring that focused on volunteer opportunities in and around East Wilton, at the Cushing School in Wilton and at the Safe Voices building on Route 133.

A whirlwind of activity erupted around 9:00 am on a bright, sunny Saturday morning, and continued late into the afternoon, with 69 volunteers working on a variety of projects. Upstairs in the Wilson Grange, volunteers from the Community Energy Challenge demonstrated to other eager volunteers how to build interior storm window panels. Within an hour, the group was working in unison building and installing panels for the Grange.

Up the street, additional volunteers worked busily with hoes and baskets in the Give Peas a Chance Garden, while others grabbed shovels to dig up rocks, sod, and move plants in front of the East Wilton Post Office. Across the way at Bishop Park, gloved hands picked up brush that had been cut earlier in the week by Rocky Hill Nursery.

Meanwhile back at the Grange, volunteers wielding tape measures and hammers began building a new landing and steps for the entrance to the kitchen. Behind them, others were spreading seed and hay on the freshly graded soil behind the building where Taylor Construction had spent a good part of Friday, back-filling and re-grading an area notorious for poor drainage.

A bit further down the road, volunteers from University of Maine at Farmington and Farmington Rotary had begun early in the day, painting colorful hopscotch boards, benches, and a storage building at Cushing School. Shortly before 11 am, a call from Dennis O’Neil over at Safe Voices on Route 133 prompted a handful of volunteers to migrate in that direction to disassemble and remove a well-worn ramp and entry area so that a paving crew could come in the following week to do some extensive drainage and paving to the parking lot.

At the end of the day, volunteers gathered back at the Wilson Grange to celebrate accomplishments. Large post-its, which hung around the Dining Hall listing the many tasks, were crossed-off one by one! A great meal topped off the day as everyone expressed a great deal of gratitude and pleasure in knowing we had truly made a difference in our community by working together!

The Day of Caring was filmed by Geoff Cyr and Tom Saviello. The people, their stories and comments are priceless, so stayed tuned for what promises to be an action packed (or at least amusing to watch) video produced by Mt Blue TV.

Day of Caring accomplishments:
69 volunteers contributed an estimated 534 hours in our community on the Day of Caring, investing $7,967 in service hours alone and approximately$4,000 in in-kind contributions of supplies and professional services.

At the Wilson Grange –

  • Thirty-one panels were built and installed with estimated energy savings of approximately $2,000 annually.
  • Drainage and heat loss issues were addressed at the Wilson Grange, providing a safer, warmer environment inside the building and a stepping stone towards more comprehensive weatherization efforts.
  • New stairs and a larger landing addressed safety issues and provided much needed space for members to move in and out of the building.

At Bishop Park – Unusable playground space was reclaimed for the neighborhood.

At East Wilton Post Office – A garden was revitalized to provide welcome cheer to this small and colorful community.

  • “Give Peas a Chance Garden” – Harvesting and winterizing tasks were accomplished for the fall.

At Cushing School – A playground was freshened, making an important statement that children matter and having fun is as important as learning.

At Safe Voices – Volunteers performed landscaping and building maintenance in order to make way for many planned improvements to the building.

The day was successful due to volunteer service and the generosity of the following contributors:

Taylor Construction, Upright Frameworks, Rocky Hill Landscaping, WMCA, Jerry Nash, Aubuchon Hardware, Hammond Lumber, Town of Wilton, Mount Blue TV, Geoff Cyr, MJK Builders, F & E Builders, Law Mountain Wreaths and Bakery, Dennis O’Neil, Shelly’s Hometown Market, Tree-Line Landscaping, Robin’s Flowerpot, Maine Commission for Community Service, Corporation for National and Community Service.

The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area would like to expand Day of Caring efforts next year, and welcomes organizations, schools, or groups from throughout the region to contact the United Way to be involved at 778-5048.

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