Published: October 02, 2007 09:34 am         

Caring and Sharing volunteers ready to tackle projects

KEYSER - Almost 200 volunteers from all over the county have signed up to participate in Mineral County's Day of Caring & Sharing on Thursday.

The event, sponsored by the United Way of Mineral County, is an opportunity for Mineral Countians to volunteer their time on a wide variety of projects benefiting the various CUW agencies and other entities in the county.

Projects can range from painting fences to planting flowers and from mulching playgrounds to picking up litter. This year, some volunteers may even be assisting with preparation for the Old-Fashioned Apple Harvest Festival in Burlington.

Chairwoman of the event is Betty Spiggle.

"We have 193 volunteers signed up right now," planning committee member Linda Toey said Monday morning as the committee members met to finalize plans for the four-hour event.

Several organizations will take part, including the Keyser Primary-Middle School Builder's Club, Burlington United Methodist Family Services, Boy Scout Troop 27, the Keyser-Mineral County Library and Potomac State College, among others.

A long list of possible projects has been compiled by the group. Among them are: Painting at the Developmental Center and Workshop on Clary Street, painting at the Tri-Towns After School in Piedmont, scraping and painting windows and mulching flower beds at the Fort Ashby Community Building, painting at Laffey-Parsons Playground, general cleanup at the Fort Ashby Fire Hall, cleanup for the town of Piedmont, and cleanup around the fitness center at the Mineral County Aging & Family Services.

In addition, the Builder's Club will be weeding and planting flowers at KPMS, and Boy Scout Troop 27 will be cleaning mattresses at Camp Minco.

Other projects may also be identified as Thursday draws closer.

The day will begin bright and early with an opening program at 8 a.m. at the South End Park in Keyser. Maj. Sue Dewan of the Salvation Army is chairing the kickoff event, and Mineral County CUW Chairman Gary Wilson will be speak briefly about the organization's goals for the year.

Each volunteer will be provided with a Day of Caring & Sharing T-shirt and will be given their assignments at that time.

Throughout the morning, the Piedmont Library - one of the agencies that benefits from CUW funding - will hold a book sale.

At the conclusion of the morning, volunteers will be treated to lunch at South End Park at 12:30 p.m.

"We really want to especially thank Keith Funkhouser, Gary Geiger and ATK for being our private sponsor," said Mary Beth Pirolozzi, executive director of County United Way.

As the private sponsor, ATK provided the T-shirts and will be assisting with the luncheon.

Pirolozzi also pointed out that there are three local entities who have stepped up to serve as site sponsors, assisting with securing the materials needed at three of the project sites. They are Automated Packaging, Sav-A-Lot and Abracadabra.

"That was really nice of them to do that," she said.

Wilson calls the Day of Caring & Sharing "a good joint effort" among a number of affiliated agencies and others who are eager to help make their community a better place in which to live.

For more information about the Day of Caring & Sharing or County United Way, call the United Way office at (877) 597-2700.

Liz Beavers can be reached at lbeavers@times-news.com.