The United Way Estevan once again received excellent support from the community for its annual Day of Caring on Wednesday.
Forty-three projects were completed this year by more than 170 volunteers. The number of projects was down a little from last year, but Wendy Gustafson, who co-chaired the Day of Caring committee with Roberta DeRosier, noted that the number of individual homes to benefit from the Day of Caring was up.
The number of projects for groups and organizations was down this year, but volunteers were still assigned to locations like Creighton Lodge, the Estevan Regional Nursing Home and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“I do actually have more individual projects, which is really nice, and we’re finding that with doing them, it’s really nice because these are a lot of seniors who just are not able to do these things on their own,” said Gustafson. “If we’re not doing them, they’re not getting done.”
Projects completed including yard work, window washing, hedge trimming, flower planting, fence painting and deck furniture cleaning, and interior work like fridge cleaning and defrosting, and wall washing.
“There’s been a little bit of everything,” said Gustafson.
Some of the volunteers helped out all day, while others were there for the morning or the afternoon. Some were projects that could be done relatively quickly, while others needed all day.
The volunteers included company representatives who were allowed to take the day off by their employers, as well as United Way board members and people from the community who wanted to help out.
“We’re just so thrilled with the day once again, and the great response we’ve had with all of the volunteers that have come out,” said Gustafson. “What’s even better is the enthusiasm from the people who are volunteering, and all the good things that I’m hearing, and the positive remarks, and how the people that they’re doing projects for are so appreciative.”
It’s not just the people who are receiving the projects who are blessed, she said, but the people who do the projects who get a special feeling.
A barbecue lunch was served at the Estevan Alliance Church. Most of the volunteers showed up for the lunch, and people from the community also turned out.
Gustafson noted that Dawn Densley and her team of volunteers prepared the lunch.
“We started it this year at 11:30 instead of noon, which I think made it much better, because it wasn’t so congested, and so everyone came in and was fed more than enough, and had some time to sit and visit, and then head off to the afternoon projects,” said Gustafson.
The Day of Caring is a great way to give back to those who support the United Way during its annual telethon in October, she said, and they’re pleased to have so many volunteers help out for the Day of Caring each year.
