More than 15 Clevelanders participated in the United Way’s 17th Annual “Day of Caring” June 4. This marked the eighth consecutive year CCCKC has been involved.
A community-wide service project, the “Day of Caring” connects volunteers with not-for-profit organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Projects carried out on the day focus on the United Way’s key issue areas: health, families and neighborhoods, seniors, youth and people achieving self-sufficiency.
The College’s past “Day of Caring” projects have included reading to the children of clients at the Adult Basic Education Literacy Center, doing volunteer work at Bridging-the-Gap Recycling Center and hosting a “Senior Olympics” at the Swope Ridge Geriatric Center. This year, CCCKC was matched with the Harvesters Community Food Network to sort and repackage donated food items in the organization’s warehouse.
“We had a very enthusiastic group of CCCKC students, employees and family members participate in this year’s Day of Caring project at Harvesters Community Food Network,” Marcia Thomas, the college’s library director and United Way coordinator, said. “We had a great time sorting and repackaging vegetables for Harvesters. I will confess that, after three hours, we all agreed that we really didn’t want to see another green pepper for a very long time. It’s a great cause and every one of the volunteers came away with a deeper appreciation for the work done by Harvesters.”
Staff participants were Thomas, Valerie Carson of the Registrar’s Office, Jack Katchmarik of Buildings & Grounds and Julie Steinbach of the Library. Students, family members and friends of the college who participated were Cierra Bachore, Brandi Benson, Gabby Benson, Annie Craig, Tyler Craig, Jared Dunlap, Dan Kangarise, Karen Kangarise, Laura Kangarise, Rebecca Kumler, Lillia Nelson, Courtney Simanowitz, Molly Tillman and Takeisha Walker.
For more information on the “Day of Caring” event or the college’s other United Way activities, contact Thomas at (913) 234-0809.
