Prince Frederick, MD – For the 22nd year in a row, United Way of Calvert County recruited members of the community for their one-day barnstorming tour of local agencies in need of help. The annual Day of Caring was held Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 16 project sites, including one at an out-of-county location.
Just before the traditional kickoff event got underway at Bayside Toyota, local United Way Director of Operations Sherri Gedridge told The BayNet there were about 212 registered participants in the projects. The one-day volunteers—a majority of whom indicated during a show-of-hands they were first-time Day of Caring participants—represented several businesses and other entities, such as Calvert County Government, Calvert County Public Schools, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Calvert Memorial Hospital and PNC Bank.
The school system’s representation included health students from the Career and Technology Academy.
One volunteer is hardly a stranger to Day of Caring. Doris Holland has participated in all 22 events. When asked if she ever tires of the event, she laughed and declared “oh, no.” Holland. She added that her favorite Day of Caring activity was helping serve at the lunch and ice cream social at Calvert County Nursing Center.
Other volunteers performed such tasks as packing groceries and bagging produce at Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry, supervising games at the Arc of Southern Maryland’s annual picnic, outdoor maintenance at East John Youth Center in Lusby and indoor maintenance at Calvert Hospice in Prince Frederick. The previously mentioned out-of-county project was just across the Patuxent River at Farming for Hunger’s operation at Serenity Farm in Benedict. There volunteers helped harvest and package food for local pantries.
United Way of Calvert County President and CEO Kelly Chambers said the Day of Caring also marked the start of the organization’s annual campaign. “We’re trying to reach that magic million mark,” said Chambers, who admitted the goal was elusive but expressed hope the day’s special event would spur additional giving and fulltime volunteerism. She added, “a lot of people don’t understand what we do.”
For the past five years the local United Way has focused its support for partner agencies that aid the community in impacting education, income and health. Chambers said that strategy will be tweaked over the next year.
Calvert County Commissioner Tom Hejl, who has stepped down from the United Way Board of Directors after over a decade of serving, presented a proclamation from the board during the kickoff ceremony. He referred to Gedridge as “The Queen of Day of Caring” for her 15 years of coordinating the logistically challenging event.
Chambers presented Gedridge with a heart-shaped trophy and a gift bag as an appreciation for her service.
With her new grandson, Jase, in her arms, Gedridge posed for a group photo with the Day of Caring volunteers.
After enjoying a fancy catered breakfast and posing for team photos, the volunteers were prepared for a different kind of day at work.
To learn more about United Way of Calvert County visit their web site.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
