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Volunteers lend hands during annual Day of Caring
By Neil Nisperos/Staff Writer
Volunteers willing to give a helping hand on Saturday morning were paired
with local community groups in need of some manual labor at United Way's
annual Day of Caring.
United Way lined up maintenance and beautification work at nonprofit
agencies for volunteers in Santa Maria, Orcutt and Lompoc.
Day of Caring matches teams of volunteers from businesses, schools, faith
communities, and community groups with nonprofit agencies. The event kicks
off United Way's annual efforts to raise funds in support of local nonprofit
agencies, promote teamwork and provide an opportunity for people to give
back to the community.
In Santa Maria, about 60 Day of Caring volunteers helped repaint the Good
Samaritan Shelter, 401 West Morrison Ave., and in Orcutt, about 10 people
helped repaint the Luis Oasis Senior Center, 420 Soares Ave.
About 20 volunteers, from Cabrillo High School, the Lompoc Host and
Vandenberg Village Lions Clubs and Santa Barbara Bank & Trust employees,
were busy on Saturday morning cleaning the North County Rape Crisis Center,
511 East Ocean Ave..
Jennifer Martin, Nicole London and Chris Boney, all second lieutenants from
Vandenberg Air Force Base's 392nd Training Squadron, were among about 150
who spent their free time on Saturday helping with yard work at the Lompoc
Boys and Girls Club on Saturday.
“It's important to give back to the community you live at,” Martin said. “It
doesn't matter where you're from. You should give back to the community
where you live.”
London added, “The Boys and Girls Club is about mentoring and all of us in
the military are products of our mentors.”
Linda Garner, assistant vice president/branch manager for Santa Barbara Bank
& Trust, volunteered with her husband Mike Garner and her children Ian Moore
and Lauren Moore. The family also helped pull weeds and clean debris in the
yard around the Boys and Girls Club.
“We've volunteered for many years,” Garner said. “Last year was Solvang's
Day of Caring but since they brought it back locally, we wanted to help
support our community.”
Dena Lara, Lompoc Boys and Girls Club director, welcomed the extra help.
“It's very exciting because it allows us to get something done that we're
not always able to get done, like cleaning windows, weeding, and just
overall beautification,” she said.
Rebekah Root, a senior at Lompoc High School, was among several other
students volunteering their time to clean windows at the club.
“I think it's a good way to give back, especially from our school,” she
said. “I think it's great to give back to the city.”
Friends and Boys and Girls Club members Marena Lundy, 8, and Bailee Kindell,
9, also were glad to see the volunteers.
“I like them cleaning because the Boys and Girls Club is dirty because of
all the kids playing and throwing things, and I like it clean,” Marena said.
Bailee added, “It feels good because it's finally getting clean from all the
mess from all the kids.”
Event coordinator Raynette Cornejo, vice president of resource and
development for Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, said the event has
been on and off in Lompoc in recent years, but she hopes the event will
become a town tradition every year.
“If there's people at home thinking about it, they should do it,” Cornejo
said.
“It's a win-win for everybody. It doesn't matter how old they are.”
United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County is a community impact
organization focused on identifying and addressing community health and
human service needs. United Way helps to support more than 50 local
agencies.
For more information regarding United Way or to volunteer, call the
office at 735-1825, or visit
www.santamariaunitedway.com
Neil Nisperos can be reached at 737-1059 or
nnisperos@santamariatimes.com.
September 16, 2007