Volunteers Help Agencies, Schools With the Chores

More than 800 volunteers painted buildings, cleared brush, planted flowers, washed windows and did other chores at social service agencies and schools Saturday as part of the second annual Community Care Day sponsored by the North Angeles Region of United Way.

The volunteers from 26 companies in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, Burbank and Glendale donated more than 2,400 hours of time to financially strapped nonprofit agencies and schools.

Increased demand for community services combined with funding cuts have forced the agencies and schools to do without routine cleaning and maintenance, said Michael Turner, Community Care Day spokesman.

“It was wonderful to see so many people lend a helping hand to these organizations,” he said.

Turner added that this year’s volunteer turnout was nearly double that of last year.

“In these times of budget cuts, every ounce of help we get is greatly appreciated,” said Sandy Doerschlag, executive director of the Volunteer Center of San Fernando Valley.

Before they fanned out for a day of hard work at agencies such as the Glendale YWCA, Samuel Dixon Family Health Center in Val Verde and El Centro de Armistad in Canoga Park, the volunteer workers gathered for a breakfast rally in the parking lot of the Los Angeles Times Valley Edition plant in Chatsworth.

The Times, Anheuser-Busch Inc., Lockheed Corp., Newhall Land & Farming Co., Transamerica Insurance Group and 20th Century Insurance Group were corporate sponsors of the event.

“Community Care Day is a terrific idea that helps everyone,” volunteer June Waugh said. “The companies provide plenty of manpower. United Way organizes everyone and the community agencies and schools supply the materials. This day was truly a joint effort.”