Days of Caring: More than 1,000 people give time or money
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Heidi Hoffman / The Herald
Jackie Wofford (center) watches volunteers, including Frontier Bank volunteer Beth Cuffel (right), clean up the yard at her Everett home during the Days of Caring two-day event Saturday. "I like my yard to look nice but I can't do it and my husband can no longer do it," said Wofford, who has been on disability for the last two years. "Now I can start planting flowers." Ten volunteers gathered at Wofford's home to help trim tree branches, pick up trash, weed flower beds and power-wash siding.
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Heidi Hoffman / The Herald
From left, Lyle Ryan, Deborah Squires, Michael Swanson and Herb Dizmang trim tree branches over Jackie Wofford's home in Everett during the Days of Caring event Saturday. Ten volunteers gathered at Wofford's home to trim branches, weed flower beds and power-wash siding.
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Jackie Wofford (left) talks with volunteers Deborah Squires (center) and Karen Crowley at Wofford’s home in Everett on Saturday. More than 1,000 people donated time or money during the Days of Caring.
On Friday and Saturday, more than 1,000 people donated their time, effort and, in some cases, money to pull weeds, pick up trash, repair electrical wiring and work on other projects.
About 150 teams participated in the event, said Deborah Squires, a spokeswoman for United Way of Snohomish County. Some teams were large, with as many as 80 people, as was the case with a team from Boeing, she said.
Other teams were as small as just two people, Squires said. Families, churches, groups of friends and companies all came together on both days.
In most cases, groups selected volunteer opportunities from the United Way Web site, Squires said. For certain projects, United Way officials matched groups with projects. A volunteer group from Aviation Technical Services helped build a laundry room for Cocoon House, which serves at-risk teens. The project included electrical work.
“That was a case of matching highly skilled people with a special project,” Squires said. “It was a beautiful pairing.”
Most projects were on a smaller scale. People in need of basic landscaping and other chores signed up at the United Way Web site, and volunteers snatched up chances to help out in the community.
In most cases, the agency or individual receiving the help covered the cost of the project, Squires said. Some companies and individuals chipped in as part of their volunteer efforts, she said.
United Way offices across the country coordinate a Day of Caring each year. Most occur in the fall, Squires said.
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