Wide swaths of bright blue went up around the Boys and Girls Club of Franklin as 40 volunteers gave the club’s gymnasium a fresh look.
They used rollers to turn the bright orange stripe accenting the gym a cool coat of blue, Boys and Girls Club’s signature color. Others took care of trim and hard-to-paint places with smaller brushes.
Methodically, the group finished in a few hours what would have taken club staff members months to do on their own.
“We have over 200 kids that come every day, and in the school year, we only have the morning to get things accomplished. I have four employees; it would take us months to do this,” said Natalie Fellure, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Franklin. “It’s huge to get that much done that quickly.”
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The effort was part of the Day of Caring, conducted by the United Way of Johnson County on Tuesday as an extravaganza of communty service. More than 300 volunteers spread out across the county to help agencies and individuals in need with service projects.
People helped paint homes and do yard work for local residents who needed assistance. They pulled weeds, mulched garden beds and cleaned out storage areas.
“For the agencies, these are things that can get done that they won’t get to,” said Nancy Lohr Plake, executive director at the United Way of Johnson County. “If an agency had a choice between the time to serve a client and the time to maintain a facility, they will choose that time to serve the client every time.”
The day served as the kick-off for the United Way’s annual campaign, which raises money for programs that support youth, seniors, people at risk of homelessness and local families throughout Johnson County, among others in need.
“For the 214 kids that come here every day. They wouldn’t have a safe place to go after school with the United Way’s support,’ Fellure said. “We couldn’t do that without them.”
Franklin resident Richard Moore stood outside his home watching as teams of volunteers from First Financial Bank trimmed bushes, cleaned out gutters and powerwashed sidewalks.
Moore had always been able to do that work by himself. But a back injury prevented him from being able to stand for long periods of time, let alone take care of yardwork, he said.
He and his wife, Mary, have been active with the Nineveh Area Senior Center for many years, including serving leadership positions. Through that agency, he was able to enlist the help of volunteers on the Day of Caring.
“With my back just about killing me, they asked if anyone needed any help around the house, and we put our names in,” he said. “It means a lot that they’re here.”
For the seven volunteers from First Financial Bank, the day was an opportunity to reach out to the community in a meaningful way, said Darci Wertz, bank branch manager.
“Giving back to our communities is a big part of who we are,” she said. “We’ve participated in this since it started, and it’s a day I personally look forward to. It’s an opportunity to show the community that we’re all in this together.”
The day kicked off with the United Way’s kick-off breakfast, a way to celebrate the start of the fundraising campaign for the year. Even at 7:15 a.m., the energy was cresting inside Scott Hall at the Johnson County fairgrounds. Music filled the hall as volunteers and representatives from United Way agencies ate breakfast together to gear up for the work ahead.
The fundraising goal for this year’s campaign is $1,571,000, said Pam Spencer, board president for United Way of Johnson County. That number represents a 2 percent increase from last year’s final tally of $1,539,000.
“That’s a lofty goal, but I feel confident we can make that,” Spencer said.
This year’s campaign presents a unique opportunity for the county, Plake said. The United Way of Johnson County received a grant through Indiana United Ways, funded by the Lilly Endowment, to provide up to $150,580 in matching funds if the county reaches certain fundraising goals, such as new employee campaigns and corporate giving.
That grant money would be used to support the No Place to Call Home program to lift local residents out of homelessness, Plake said.
With the mission laid out in front of them, people adjourned to their volunteer assignments. This year, 29 companies pledged volunteers to help around the community. They were sent to 24 locations, ranging from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts camps in the area to organizations such as the Salvation Army and KIC-IT.
Some people did yard work and painting at residents’ homes, projects arranged by agencies such as Johnson County Senior Services.
“It is one of the most rewarding days that we have,” Plake said. “These people are so enthusiastic about going out and serving their fellow neighbor, and they have a great time doing it. The things they can get done is tremendous.”
The group at the Boys and Girls Club of Franklin was made up of volunteers from Homeview Health and Rehab, NSK Corp. and NSK Precision America.
They banded together throughout the club headquarters to take care of painting. Some were on ladders reaching the highest trim around the gym, others had extendable rollers that could quickly cover larges swaths of orange. People packed into doorways and other small spaces to brush doors and doorframes leading into the gym.
The Day of Caring is a chance for those volunteers to use their combined effort to do good in the community, said Mark Gavorski, an administrator for Homeview Health and Rehab. But for Homeview’s 18 employees taking part Tuesday, it was also a chance to strengthen their bonds as co-workers.
“It’s all about coming together as a family, working together to show teamwork and camaraderie,” Gavorski said.
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United Way of Johnson County local impact
In 2017, United Way agencies and programs helped more than 39,000 county residents. Because of the organization:
293 people received emergency help to stay in their homes, including rental, mortgage and utility assistance.
784 older adults took part in wellness or social programs.
1,803 children had a safe and affordable place to go after school.
1,987 kids received schools supplies for the first day of school.
2,308 individuals were assisted as they try to escape domestic violence.
9,983 people received rides through transportation programs to get to jobs, employment training and medical appointments.
More than $75,000 was provided for counseling to youths and their families to handle issues with physical, mental or sexual abuse, bullying and drug and alcohol abuse.
— Information from the United Way of Johnson County
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