Volunteers lend a hands to community, non-profit agencies

MEDIA » Local community and non-profit agencies got a leg up on their to-do lists Wednesday as a host of volunteers coordinated under United Way’s Delaware County Day of Caring to lend a hand with various projects.

At the Pathways PA Media complex on Station Road, volunteers from Wegman’s Glen Mills location were cleaning out and building shelving for a third-floor attic to warehouse files, bedding, winter coats, toys and clothing.

“At some point, we were going to use it as livable space, but we weren’t able to do that, so we just started using it as storage,” said Pathways PA Director Lenora Pope. “They’re helping us make more sense of it.”

Pathways PA helps women and children escaping domestic violence situations by providing a roof over their heads and assistance in getting their feet under them before transitioning to the next stage in their lives.

Pope said Pathways by law must keep records of its clients on hand for seven to 10 years. While those files can be accessed quickly for families in need, the actual storage area needed to be updated.

“For example, we had a family call the other day, they’ve been gone literally five years, and they needed a copy of a Social Security card and birth certificate,” said Pope. “So because we keep those on file, we were able to still help them.”

Andrea Bergner, a knowledgebased service specialist at Wegman’s, said she wanted to pitch in to give back to the community and bond with coworkers.

“It’s a great experience for us to all come together as a team and make an impact,” she said. “I think that’s the most important thing for me is the reinforcement of the teamwork spirit that we have at Wegman’s.”

“It’s a great help,” said Pathways Maintenance Supervisor Gene Laird between building out shelves for installation. “That third floor just needed some tender loving care. We get so much stuff in, and you’re running around like a nut, you just put it up there and it just piles up.”

“This is the first time that we’ve brought a large number of volunteers to really focus our efforts on Delaware County,” said United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey Director of Engagement Ashley Freeth. “While we often will send national volunteers to organizations, locally this is the first effort that we’re doing in this county.”

Freeth said there were 80 volunteers from corporate partners in the county Wednesday lending a hand at various locations. These included Senior Community Services, Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County Inc., Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Boys & Girls Club of Chester, Family and Community Service of Delaware County, Be Proud Foundation and CADES.

“We’ve had a great response,” said Freeth. “We have opportunities available at our volunteer portal for local residents to get involved in if they’re so inspired by today’s events … that they wanted to get involved as well.”