Busy Day of Action
Volunteers work to help nonprofits
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Day of Action volunteers repaint the inside of the North Central West Virginia (NCWV) Community Action Shelter in Elkins Wednesday afternoon.
The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie
A Day of Action volunteer power-washes the ramp outside of the Randolph County Senior Center in Elkins Wednesday afternoon.
ELKINS -- The annual United Way Day of Action kicked off locally with great turnout and eager volunteers Wednesday.
The fifth annual event began at Elkins City Park with an opening speech from regional engagement director of Tygart Valley United Way Angela Daniels.
"It warms my heart to see so many people here to help out," she said.
"One thing I love about this event is that it actually gets people in the door of nonprofits so they can see what they do and who they help, see what their programs are, what their resources are," said Daniels.
Participants, clad in their commemorative green T-shirts, gathered around to talk to one another, excitedly discuss their projects, and have lunch, courtesy of Papa Johns. After lunch, volunteers took a group photo and headed out to their respective projects.
Dominique Bishop, Tammie Rizzio, Rosa Scarangello and Hannah Dodson were among the volunteers.
"We're involved heavily in the community," said Dodson, "and have a special passion for the Baby Pantry, so this is an opportunity to be involved in a different way."
Dodson, Bishop and Scarangello all spent their Day of Action helping at the Baby Pantry.
"I've been actively involved with the Children's Advocacy Center, so I want to give back to them," said Rizzio, who spent her Day of Action helping at the Advocacy Center.
Volunteers ranged from employees of Davis Trust and U.S. Cellular, members of the Women's Club of Elkins, Youth Health Service, YouthBuild and the Randolph County Housing Authority.
Local officials who pitched in as volunteers included the director of Elkins Main Street, Lissa Eason; the director of the Elkins-Randolph County Tourism, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Samantha Peet; the executive director of the Mountain State Forest Festival, Heidi Bray; and Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco.
The service projects this year included working with the Randolph-Tucker Children's Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities WV, the NCWV Community Action Shelter, the Randolph County Family Resources Network's Baby Pantry, the American Red Cross, the Randolph County Senior Center, Randolph County CLIMB, Meals on Wheels, and the Randolph County Humane Society.
"They are our funded partners," Daniels told The Inter-Mountain, "they are people who we help fund programs at their nonprofits."
For information about next year's Day of Action, visit tvunitedway.org/doa.