Volunteers put their caring into action

WESTFALL — Pike County volunteers landscaped, cleaned, planted, organized, shelf-stocked, washed, weeded, and donated blood towards a better community last Saturday. The day, Sept. 8, was the seventh annual United Way Day of Caring and Blood Drive. The largest turnout ever, over 270 volunteers packed the Delaware Valley High School 11-12 cafeteria shortly before 8 a.m. last weekend. They got a breakfast prepared by the Vo-Tech students before departing to Camp Spears Eljibar, PEEC, the Holy Trinity food pantry, Bushkill Outreach and GAIT, among others. United Way Pike Chapter’s President and Delaware Valley Middle School Principal Peter Ioppolo addressed the crowd, thanking them for their dedication and time. At Camp Spears Eljibar, volunteers spent their day either painting the exteriors of camp cabins, or doing maintenance around the YMCA. Kathryn Beirne, a senior and third-year Day of Caring volunteer, is used to donating her time to the camp. “This is my third year coming to Camp Spears to work. It makes me happy to know that I helped other people in some way.” That attitude was recurring throughout the camp woods. “I like this, I’m really enjoying myself. I don’t mind being on top of high ladders, either,” commented Nicole Anderson, a junior and first timer to United Way’s annual cause. Out of the cool woods and onto Log Tavern Road, other community members were busy at Country Ark Farms, a non-profit therapy center for the disabled. At least 40 people cleaned the farm’s pens and cleared a large field of dead brush and weeds, all normal “farm chores,” according to co-founder and owner of 18 years Donna Ciancitto. “I love to see when the kids come back year after year and how they’ve grown. It’s touching,” she said. Back at the Delaware Valley High School campus, blood donors lined the inside of the undersized elementary school gym. At a rate of three lives to one donation, 261 lives were saved that day, as Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) class members helped collect 87 total units. Seth Gurian was caught in the moment when driving past the campus, noticing Buddy Blood Drop, aka Pike County Commissioner Henry Forbes, outside. “I wasn’t even planning on donating — I saw the signs out front and figured I had the time to do something worthwhile,” he admitted. Ioppolo was especially pleased with how the day turned out this year. “All years have been extremely successful, but this year we had the highest number yet. I extend the greatest appreciation to all individuals that volunteered their time in helping their community for such a great cause.” That afternoon, nearly 300 community members went home either splattered with paint and dirt, or with sore arms from stocking food pantries, but all knowing that they had shown they really do care.