Volunteers help out area organizations

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PLYMOUTH — About 35 volunteers raked leaves, painted benches and performed other maintenance Friday at the Shawnee Cemetery as part of the 21st annual United Way of Wyoming Valley’s Day of Caring.

Donning bright blue tee shirts, hundreds of volunteers were dispatched throughout the area to help organizations and agencies get projects done that they might otherwise not be able to afford.

The United Way said more about 740 volunteers from 48 organizations completed 42 community projects at 36 local agencies. The work achieved in the one-day effort represented more than 4,200 volunteer hours with a value of nearly $100,000.

At the Shawnee Cemetery, the volunteers accomplished much and also took in some history lessons along the way.

“We all need a little TLC,” said Pilar Cueva, one of about 18 employees of Citizens Bank. “It’s good to give this cemetery a little face lift and visit those who are sometimes forgotten.”

Tom Jesso, the cemetery’s volunteer caretaker, said the work being done would help immeasurably.

“Winter came so early, we didn’t have time to rake up all of the leaves,” he said. “And you can see how many leaves have fallen. We can’t thank these people enough for their help.”

Steve Kondrad, a historian who knows all about Plymouth, pointed to the Squibb Monument in the cemetery that marks the community grave of 10 women killed in a blast at the Shawnee Avenue plant in 1889. He also noted the Civil War burial area where volunteers were painting benches. Jesso said veterans of all wars — the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War — are buried in the cemetery.

“This is such a great help to the cemetery,” Kondrad said. “There are a lot of little hands doing a lot of work here today.”

And that is what the Day of Caring is all about, said Bill Jones, president/CEO of the sponsoring agency.

“That’s the value of having all of these volunteers out in the community today helping organizations that can’t afford to get these projects done on their own,” Jones said.

Donna Farrell, senior vice president at Citizens Bank, said the employees look forward to the Day of Caring each year.

“It’s part of who we are,” Farrell said. “It’s part of what we stand for, helping the community is something we want to keep doing.”

SPCA appreciative

Peggy Nork, director of development at the SPCA in Plains Township, said volunteers scrubbed and painted the kennel and planting flowers and doing maintenance in the pet cemetery adjacent to the facility.

“We would not be able to do these projects without the help of these volunteers,” she said. “And they always do a fabulous job. We are never disappointed with the work done by Day of Caring volunteers.”

Some 30 volunteers from Benco Dental arrived first, led by Florence Marchesano, who said the company has been helping out for more than 10 years.

“We like to be a part of this coming together of the community to help all of these organizations out,” she said. “And we get a good feeling too.”

Lisa Ninotti, community relations manager at UGI, said she and 30 other employees would be volunteering at Blue Chip Farms, Slocum Street Park and the Children’s Service Center.

“We feel it’s important to get out into the community and help,” she said. “This is where our customers and our employees live.”

At the SPCA, the Benco workers were warned that they might get wet, dirty or even splashed with bleach.

“That OK,” said Samantha Monahan. “When we’re done, they let us see the dogs.”

Awards presented

Numerous organizations were recognized during a morning kickoff at Genetti’s for their support of United Way’s 2013-2014 Community Campaign. The include:

• Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the Highest Employee Campaign at more than $104,000 and the Highest Number of Loyal Contributors (employees contributing to the campaign for 5 consecutive years) with 208.

• Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Most New Employee Campaign Dollars at nearly $10,000.

• Sordoni Construction Services, Inc., Highest Average Gift per Contributor at more than $1,200.

• PNC Bank, Northeast PA, Highest Corporate Gift at $80,000.

• Teamsters Local 401 (United Parcel Service and Teamsters Local 401 Union Office) for the Highest Number of Labor Leadership Givers at 46.

• Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies for the Highest Number of Leadership Givers at 60 and the Highest Number of Loyal Contributors (employees contributing to the campaign for 10 consecutive years or more) at 25.

• The Sarah and Anthony F. Kane Outstanding Achievement Award, Laura O’Malley, a member of the Dallas Education Association and is a school nurse for the Dallas School District.

• The United Way of Wyoming Valley Corporate Award, Trion Industries, Inc. and Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, PC.

• The Rose Brader Community Service Award, Teresa Novak, a retired staff member of the Victims Resource Center.

• The Sam Bianco Labor Award, James V. Murphy of Teamsters Local 401.

• The Employee Campaign Coordinator of the Year Award, Kim Graham of InterMetro Industries Corp.