70 join in Day of Caring projects around Orleans County

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Terry Kingdollar, rear, adviser to the Arc’s All Stars, watches volunteers landscape the area around the Cornell Cooperative Extension sign at the fairgrounds during the Day of Caring on Friday.

KNOWLESVILLE – An amazing 70 people showed up at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Friday morning to volunteer for United Way of Orleans County’s Day of Caring.

United Way of Orleans County has been bringing volunteers together to help their community for decades, said director Matt Holland. He was overjoyed with the number of people who volunteered and the organizations which asked for help with special projects.

The day began with breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds. Holland expressed his gratitude to Mark’s Pizzeria in Medina for opening so early to have breakfast pizzas ready to feed the crews.

Provided photos: Members of the Medina Sandstone Society worked on landscaping at the Medina City Hall, which includes space for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame. In front, from left, include Gail Miller, Kathy Blackburn, Peggy Schreck and President Craig Tuohey. In back are Dave Miller and Jim Hancock.

Volunteers came from the Sandstone Society’s board of directors, Orleans County Mental Health, United Way’s board, Pathstone, Western New York Energy, Orleans Correctional Facility, Baxter Healthcare, Orleans Community Health, Arc GLOW, Velocitii and Takeform.

The volunteers performed various duties for Medina City Hall, Camp Rainbow, Cobblestone Museum, Hospice (Supportive Care of Orleans), Community Action, three Arc sites in Albion, the Orleans County YMCA, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Medina Railroad Museum and an Arc home in Medina.

Most of the duties included landscaping, moving chairs and painting.

Jennifer Mateo of PathStone and some of her co-workers worked on projects for Supportive Care of Orleans and the Martin-Linsin Residence.

Kelsey Smith, who works at Western New York Energy, said this was her first time volunteering for Day of Caring. She said she was one of those assigned to paint over graffiti at Community Action’s Main Street Thrift Store in Albion.

Mia Dennard works at Velocitii, and said she enjoys helping her community.

“Velocitii has a lot of volunteer opportunities for its employees, and I’m excited to get out and help,” she said. “I like volunteering. I’ve rung the Red Kettle bell at Christmas time at Tops.”

Katie Oakes, horticulture educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension, said they were grateful for the crew that was coming to help them Friday.

One of their projects was landscaping around the giant pie tin.

“A lot of people are needed to get things done, and I don’t have a lot of staff,” Oakes said. “Today I hope to get some of the work done so our grounds look nice. I’m grateful for the volunteers helping today.”

Staff from the Orleans Correctional Facility and Orleans County Mental Health Department worked on projects at Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway.

These volunteers painted picnic tables at Camp Rainbow.

Ben Curfman, pastor of North Point Chapel in Albion, was part of a team from PathStone working on projects at the Martin-Linsin Residence for Supportive Care of Orleans in Albion.