2,500 volunteers get things done on Day of Caring

Eric Johnson traded in his business suit Wednesday for a little weeding and reading at Cale Elementary.

Johnson and five of his co-workers at Signature, a wealth management company in Charlottesville, were among 2,500 volunteers to participate in the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area’s annual Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring.

The daylong event gives volunteers a chance to do everything from reading to students to painting at schools and nonprofits in Charlottesville and Albemarle, Greene, Nelson, Fluvanna and Louisa counties.

The Signature volunteers spent the morning clearing out a trail behind the school and then reading to students in the afternoon.

“This is just a great way to help people and give back,” said Johnson, who was working his sixth Day of Caring event. “It’s also a great way to support a great group like the United Way.”

While some volunteers were clearing woods at Cale, others were cleaning out flower beds, helping students count money they raised for the SPCA, doing repainting and other art projects and organizing a book room and special reading sections for Spanish speakers.

There were more than 60 volunteers working on eight projects at the school Wednesday, said Megan Eddy, the school’s PTO president and coordinator of the event.

“We have a really great volunteer family group here at Cale, but this gives us a chance to get a lot of projects done at one time,” said Eddy, who already spends 10 hours a week volunteering at and for the school. “Our parents will finish up all of the projects that don’t get completed during the Day of Caring. It might take us a month, but we’ll get them complete.”

Eddy started working on the Day of Caring in May by asking parents and teachers about projects they would like to have done. Teachers work together to use the day as a teaching tool for students by teaching them about the importance of volunteering.

The PTO paid for the supplies and volunteers provide the manpower and some of their own materials, Eddy said. Eddy and either other parents were on hand Wednesday to help volunteers find their projects and answer any questions they had.

“It’s great for our students to see the volunteers today because most of the work we do [as volunteers] is done while they’re away,” Eddy said. “It’s great to see that these people care about their school and are here to help.”

Andrew Meiller, assistant principal at the school, said having the Day of Caring volunteers at the school continues the school’s mission of helping others. Teachers and school administration staff teach students to respect and help each other and everyone will succeed.

“We really believe in the success of all students,” Meiller said. “Parents at Cale want success for every student, not just their own. The Day of Caring is an event that brings the community and schools and organizations together.”

United Way staff start early trying to encourage all of the schools to request volunteers on the Day of Caring and other times of the year, said Shaele Wood, volunteer coordinator.

Some of the schools participate more than others. Wood said.

“[Cale Elementary has] a fantastic group who work with all the teachers to identify potential projects,” Wood said. “I’d love to see that potential growth at other schools as well. It’s really a great opportunity for schools to invite community members into their building who can then turn into ongoing reading buddies, mentors, after-school tutors and more.”

Tesha West traded in a day at her job as an office manager at the University of Virginia to mulch the flower beds in front of Cale Elementary. It’s a job school officials said might not have gotten done by school custodial staff and system-wide building maintenance.

West and her co-workers have worked the Day of Caring for the last several years and always try to pick outdoor projects. The volunteering has its perks, West said.

“It’s nice to work outside when you’re used to being indoors all day,” West said.