Day of Caring returns, connecting hundreds of volunteers with community and coworkers

Sep. 2—SCRANTON — With high turnover in the maintenance department of the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, many tasks have gone undone.

On Thursday, a team of volunteers picked up paint brushes, shovels and hoses and made a difference.

During the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties' Day of Caring, 203 volunteers from 25 different companies completed 31 service projects in Scranton and beyond.

For the first time since the pandemic began, the volunteers gathered to clean yards, weed gardens, organize clothing donations and paint walls.

"It's always a tremendous help," said Lisa Durkin, president and CEO of UNC. "We're extremely grateful."

The service event was held hours before the United Way's annual campaign kickoff. The last Day of Caring happened in 2019. Gary Drapek, president and CEO of the local United Way, could barely sleep Wednesday night, knowing the impact the day would have.

"When it's gone, you really, truly miss it," Drapek said. "It's exciting to be back. This is ideal."

Aida Ozuna dug into the dirt at UNC's Bellevue Center in West Scranton. She placed a flowering Blue Fortune hyssop in the hole in front of the building, brightening the outside of the child care facility.

For Ozuna, who works remotely for PNC Bank, the volunteer work became an opportunity to connect with coworkers.

"I talk to people on the phone, but it's not the same," she said.

Children laughed and ran in the yard outside the Bellevue Center, while volunteers painted the cubbies in the hallway, going from teal to a shade called "Amazing Gray." Others painted window trim, sanitized sleeping cots and washed chairs.

"It's nice to be able to be back, and it's nice to see coworkers," said Denise Boss, a volunteer from MetLife.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter.