Volunteers complete 70 projects in DeKalb County
AUBURN — Friday’s annual United Way of DeKalb County Day of Caring exceeded goals with a record number of 850 volunteers stepping forward to assist with dozens of projects across the county.
This year’s cooler temperatures and dry conditions made for a perfect day for caring in the community.
“This is the largest group of volunteers the United Way of DeKalb County has ever had for Day of Caring,” said resource development coordinator Mark Burnworth. “And it’s just continuing to grow, year after year. If you’re coming back next year, bring a friend and we’ll make it bigger and bigger.”
The yearly event took place all over DeKalb County. This year, there were 70 projects — 32 completed in Auburn, 13 in Butler, 16 in Garrett, six in Waterloo and one in Hamilton. Volunteers tackled projects that included installing new accessible ramps, wooden privacy fences, staining of ramps completed the year before, painting, landscaping and many, many other projects. Tools and materials for projects were delivered to sites earlier in the week.
Before heading off to the various worksites, some 540 volunteers and sponsors gathered at Kruse Plaza south of Auburn for a catered breakfast from The Deli at Sixth & Main.
“Again we couldn’t do it without our sponsors and our volunteers,” said United Way executive director Tyler Cleverly, noting more than 150 youth volunteers from DeKalb and Garrett high school sports teams and 4-H club members worked on projects at various sites. “To be honest, I know coaches, they say, ‘We want you to do this.’ I don’t know that they truly know what they’re volunteering for yet, or what it’s doing to do in their heart, and hopefully a lifetime of serving. To see this many kids here is pretty incredible.”
Unique projects
A team from TFC Canopy worked on two projects at Image of Hope Ranch south of Auburn.
One group was building a room so tack could be moved from a horse stall where it had been stored. Another group was building a wooden dock at the prayer pergola.
A team from Metal Technologies also was at Image of Hope to do painting and staining work around the property.
A five-woman team from the Auburn Parks and Recreation Department spent the day at Hearten House Gospel Rescue Mission in Auburn.
Projects there included power washing, painting and landscaping.
Ministry coordinator Vicki Rodkey commended the team for its efforts, as well as the work done by other teams in previous years.
“It makes our home look more presentable to the community,” she said.
The day also offered an opportunity for Hearten House — a shelter providing restorative care for women experiencing a homeless crisis — to share its mission.
“It’s great to have different people see what we do,” Rodkey added.
As well as being the recipient of Day of Caring efforts, Hearten House also gives back to the community by participating in in projects such as hanging Pink Out ribbons, helping at Image of Hope’s fall festival and fixing meals for Brianna’s Hope, she added.
A group of DeKalb High School football and soccer team members helped with landscaping projects at Eagle Park and Warm a Heart in Waterloo, and at Rieke Park north of Auburn.
In Garrett, members of the Railroader football team helped spruce up three city parks while staff from the Garrett-Keyser-Butler school district applied sealant to a wooden deck and ramp at a residence on C.R. 52 near Feick Park.
In Butler, teams from Butler Mill Service, Children First Center, Color Master, DeKalb Molded Plastics, Metal X, New Millennium Building Systems, Nucor Building Systems, Steel Dynamics and the YMCA of DeKalb County tackled several projects.
A team from Nucor Building Systems assembled a deck at the Walt Stickney residence on S.R. 1. Another team painted, replaced fascia and performed yard work at a resident’s home. A third team replaced a lean-to, trimmed and removed weeds at the Filling Station Youth Center.
Day of Caring awards
Vision Source Innovative Eye Care was presented with the 2024 Hammerhead Award for an individual of group that goes above and beyond for Day of Caring. This year, teams from Vision Source worked on two projects in Auburn.
The Group Spirit Award, based on a company’s passion about its community and exhibits what it means to “live united” was presented to Tempus Technologies. Cleverly said the company has jumped in and ran with its Day of Caring projects for the past five years. Tempus is also involved in many community initiatives.
Mike Quaderer was presented with the Al Wleklinski Helping Hand Award in honor of the late United Way board and committee member who served on many other boards throughout the county for many years. Wlekinski passed away in September 2021. The award is presented to an individual or group that possesses qualities of outstanding volunteerism, dedication and hard work.
Quaderer has served as a crew chief for New Millennium Building System’s projects the last three years, and is a member United Way’s Community Impact committee that reviews outgoing grants.