Groups lend a hand to help community

Published 6:15 am Friday, July 21, 2017

While many are being driven indoors by the heat, others are stepping out into the community with various volunteer projects.

The Birdie Thornton Center in Athens, Limestone Health Facility and the Boys & Girls Club in Ardmore, Tennessee, were each visited recently by a group looking to donate their time or services.

The Birdie Thornton Center was visited July 11 by a production team at Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. The team of 10 washed cars, hung out with residents and cleaned the building, according to Bunni Wheeler, supply chain administrator for Asahi Kasei Plastics.

“We like to use our downtime around the community,” she said.

In the past, this involved volunteering at hospice, repainting parking lots and community service in private homes. This time, however, a production team decided to turn volunteering into a team-building exercise.

The Birdie Thornton Center and its patrons appreciated the effort.

“We’re very grateful that they take time out of their day to help us … ,” said Kristy Allen, program director for the center.

Saturday, Refuge Church sent a group of elementary school children to Limestone Health Facility. Mark Brannon, associate pastor, said children went room-to-room, offering singing, dancing and free hugs.

“They just went out and loved people,” said Branon, whose daughter enjoyed it so much she’s asked when they’re going back.

Their visit was part of National Serve Day. While the younger kids visited facility residents, a team of 12 teens and adults partnered with United Way of Athens-Limestone County and volunteers with the now-defunct Care Assurance System for the Aging (and Homebound) to build a ramp for a local elderly man.

To be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ramp had to be 40 feet long and zig-zag, Branon said.

“We’re blessed with some pretty talented engineers that take over the planning stage to make sure we stay within code,” he said.

In Ardmore, the Boys & Girls Club had a series of events, according to club director Ronderius Reese. A group of five employees from Shape Corp. spent a full day at the club.

Groups worked on all kinds of projects, from cleaning and organization to work in the kitchen.

“It gives kids a chance to see adults working in the community and it gives employees a way to impact in a way they didn’t know they could impact,” Reese said.

Doing more

Wheeler and Branon each credited United Way with helping their teams find opportunities to volunteer. They reached out to director Kaye Young McFarlen to see where their talents would best be put to use.

Asahi Kasei participates in the agency’s Day of Caring each year. United Way’s annual Week of Caring is set for Sept. 15-22.

“As we get closer, we will be sharing in a number of different formats what individuals can do to get involved with a project or a cause for a lifetime,” McFarlen said.

Reese encouraged individuals and organizations to reach out to the Boys & Girls Club for volunteer opportunities at any of its clubs and youth centers throughout north Alabama.

“I am always in need of volunteers, so the more volunteers, the better,” Reese said.

Individuals can visit the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama website at www.bgcnal.com and click “Get Involved” to access the application for volunteering.

United Way of Athens-Limestone County can be reached at 256-233-2323 or online at www.unitedwayathenslimestone.com.