They cut grass and raked leaves. They cleaned rooms and
emptied basements. They painted offices and spruced up
property. They earned kudos from appreciative adults and
loving smiles from small children.
Eastern Michigan University's faculty, staff and administrators
showed their own special way of caring during the Washtenaw
United Way Day of Caring Sept. 14.
Approximately 200 EMU employees lent a hand at 20 sites
across Washtenaw County.
 |
SAFETY FIRST: Pre-school children at Washtenaw
County Head Start learn safety tips as part of
the
Washtenaw United Way Day of Caring Sept. 12.
(back row, middle) Leah Adams, an EMU emeritus
faculty, and (back row, right) Carin Barber, an
area
housing complex director, assisted
with the tours.
Nearly 200 EMU employees participated
at 20 work
sites in Washtenaw County. Photo
by Randy Mascharka
|
"The Day of Caring was an overwhelming success due to
the many contributions of our employees, who gave of their
time, talents and skills," said
Sheilah Larnhart, confidential clerical in University Marketing
and coordinator of EMU's United Way Day of Caring efforts.
"They worked in partnership with area community agencies
for the good of our community."
It was Safety Day at the Washtenaw County Head Start and
pre-schoolers there learned safety tips — including
how to properly evacuate a school bus to the importance
of knowing one's name and address — from Washtenaw
County Sheriff's Department patrol officers. Volunteers
from EMU helped Head Start teachers with the tiny tot tours.
"This gives me an opportunity to take EMU out to the county
and expose the community to EMU," said Vijaya Sastry, a
senior IT analyst in ICT. "I've helped the children
with tying shoes, washing hands and giving them a pat and
saying 'good job.' You see the smiles on their faces."
"This is my second year participating (in United Way Day
of Caring). It seems like a great way to get involved in
the community," said Carin Barber, an area complex director
in housing for EMU. Barber supervises a community volunteer
group, National Residence Hall Honorary, composed of EMU
students who live on campus.
In addition to helping with the safety tours, EMU employees
volunteered with classroom lessons and supervised children
on the playground. Leah Adams, an EMU emeritus faculty
who taught teacher education for 30 years, sang "Row Your
Boat" to two little girls playing in a toy rowboat contraption.
At the Corner Health Center in downtown Ypsilanti, a group
of eight brave EMU souls plunged into the bowels of a basement
of a next-door building the social service agency has purchased
and plans to remodel and use for additional office space.
The contingent removed old tires, wood pallets, plywood
sheets, boxes, office chairs, old shelves, a casket and
even "six to eight old-time safes," said Mark Monahan,
assistant director facilities operations at the Convocation
Center. Debris and items removed easily filled a 30-foot
dumpster.
"It's amazing how much you can get done," said Pauline
Banks, secretary in the VISION office, shortly after the
lunch break. "When you get a group of people together,
you get a lot more done than you think you can."
Sue Laity, director of the Northfield Twp. Senior Center,,
was pleased with how much EMU employees contributed to
sprucing up the center's grounds.
"They did an excellent job and the place looks fabulous,"
Laity said.
Other sites where EMU volunteers worked included: HelpSource,
Sharon Hills Nature Preserve, SOS Community Services, Northfield
Twp. Senior Center, Community Action Network, The Women's
Health Center, Avalon Housing, Inc., Community Residence
Corporation, The Salvation Army, Washtenaw Literacy, Catholic
Social Services, Huron Valley Human Society, First Congregational
Church, Washtenaw Camp Placement Association and SAFE House
Center.
"Our employee participation exemplifies the EMU team spirit
and our folks' willingness to step up to the plate and
help those in need," Larnhart said.
