Day Of Caring Adds New Meaning To 911
Ben Peiffer and Clow Valve volunteer Rick Flattery work to install a door on one of the new Habitat for Humanity homes this past week.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Over 140 volunteers spread out across Mahaska County to make a difference in the lives of others.
The 2019 United Way of Mahaska County Day of Caring worked to complete 15 projects during the day.
Michella Friesen is the interim director at the United Way of Mahaska County, and worked to keep 140 volunteers busy and pointed in the right direction.
Friesen took over at a very busy time of the year for United Way. Besides the Day of Caring, it’s the kick-off for Campaign, which is the largest fundraising opportunity for United Way in Mahaska County.
“It’s very exciting to me,” says Friesen of the Day of Caring and all the activity it brings. “It’s just a day where the community surrounds itself and helps each other.”
“I really like seeing everyone in their Live United shirts,” added Friesen of all the volunteers. By wearing their t-shirts, they were also helping to raise awareness of United Way, and its mission.
Friesen said it was tough to keep up with all the volunteers because they were able to accomplish so much so quickly as a team. “It just speaks to our community and how they like to give back.”
Friesen said the primary mission of United Way is to empower people. That is achieved through education, and have internal initiatives, and help fund outside partners to help “bridge those gaps in the community.”
The goal is to Live United and help people’s lives, Friesen added.
Ben Peiffer is a board member for Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity and was onhand as volunteers descended upon the group’s three projects.
In Oskaloosa, volunteers worked on buttoning up the two homes on First Avenue that have been waiting for some legal issues to be tidied up.
“We got a lot accomplished,” said Peiffer of the progress made on the homes during the Day of Caring.
“For United Way to take 911 and put a Day of Caring together like that. I can’t say enough about that. We all remember that day very well. There’s not a more impactful way to go about remembering a day like that, than to bring the whole town together and do things for other people,” said Peiffer.
