United Way Day of Service turnout praised

To the Editor:

In an effort to increase our community impact, we could not be more pleased with the turnout for this year's United Way Day of Service.

Again this year, we had extended the Day of Service to two days, Friday, Aug. 24 and Saturday, Aug. 25. Through the service of many individuals, we were able to impact so many in our community.

On Friday, following our annual kickoff breakfast, we had community members working at two sites: Mayor Sue Murray, United Way Board member Kerry Ames and myself worked in a flower bed at Greencastle Housing Authority's Northwood Apartments, while a team of workers from Walmart Distribution Center went to Hope Haven Horse Farm where they worked most of the day.

On Saturday, we once again partnered with the DePauw First Year Service Plunge to work throughout the county. Over 160 students came out to offer their service in our community.

Volunteers went to the following sites: DePauw Nature Park, Robe-Ann Park, Jaycee Park, Camp Friend, People Pathways, Rescued Treasures, Putnam County Airport, Peace Lutheran Preschool, Care Net Pregnancy Center, Asbury Towers, CTEP, the Putnam County Non-food Pantry and Putnam County Senior Center.

We would also like to acknowledge the members from each of the agencies or organizations where these services were performed for their preparation and assistance in these projects.

We would like to thank Final Approach Bar and Grill for providing lunch for the service members at the Putnam County Airport as well as the Inn at DePauw for its wonderful service for both Friday and Saturday.

We would like show our gratitude to State Rep. Jim Baird along with County Commissioner Nancy Fogle who came out to not only thank the students on Saturday, but to also educate to them about our community.

The purpose of the United Way Day of Service is to support and promote volunteerism, increase awareness of the human service needs in Putnam County as well as to demonstrate what people working together for the community's good can accomplish.

This year we feel that our community really came together and truly demonstrated our goal to "Live United."

On behalf of the United Way of Putnam County, I want to sincerely thank all of the agencies, organizations, sponsors and volunteers for their service this year because without all of them, this event would not have been such a success.

Jennifer Edwards
Executive Director
United Way of Putnam County