Schuylkill County communities saw an outpouring of volunteerism and community spirit during the annual Capt. Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring organized by the Schuylkill United Way, with more than 300 adult volunteers and over 210 students participating in projects across the county.
The annual event connected volunteers with community service projects benefiting Schuylkill United Way’s 15 partner agencies and several additional organizations throughout the county. According to Schuylkill United Way Executive Director Mike Joyce, the day highlighted the organization’s mission of supporting local nonprofits and residents.
“The SUW Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring is hands down one of the best days of the year for me,” Joyce said. “Our whole mission revolves around supporting our Partner Agencies and Schuylkill County.”
In total, volunteers completed 21 service projects throughout Schuylkill County.
One of the largest efforts took place through the American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” program in Pottsville. Volunteers canvassed neighborhoods and installed 84 smoke alarms in 40 homes, improving safety for 94 residents. Volunteers participating in the project came from Amazon’s Fraley Township facility, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill, the Walter and Irene Baran Schuylkill Family Medicine Residency Program, and UGI.
At Avenues, volunteers completed landscaping projects, built flower boxes, and performed painting and cleaning work at facilities in Pottsville and Shenandoah. The work was carried out by volunteers from EMD Electronics, Hydro, M&T Bank, and the Essential Minions group.
Volunteers also assisted Child Development Inc. by painting sheds, planting flowers, and conducting spring cleaning at centers in Fountain Springs, Mahanoy City, Pottsville, and Shenandoah.
Students at Pine Grove High School participated in mock job interviews through the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council’s Y.E.S. Program. Volunteers from Fulton Bank and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections helped provide students with real-world interview experience.
At the Schuylkill HOPE Center for Victims of Domestic Violence, volunteers deep cleaned the organization’s pet shelter and prepared its Healing Garden for the upcoming season. Sarah Barket, chief public affairs officer for the organization, said the volunteers’ efforts help provide survivors with a safe and welcoming outdoor space as they rebuild their lives.
The Schuylkill YMCA received assistance with a parking lot cleanup, while volunteers at the Scouting America Hawk Mountain Council’s Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation tackled a variety of tasks in preparation for summer camp season. More than 100 volunteers helped with landscaping, electrical work, trail clearing, tent setup, wood splitting, and other projects.
Additional projects included volunteers from MidPenn Bank playing bingo with attendees at the Tamaqua Area Adult Day Care Center, work completed at Helping Harvest, projects in Palo Alto Borough and Tamaqua’s Liberty Tree Park, and volunteer efforts at St. Joseph Center for Special Learning.
The Minersville Area School District also participated in the Day of Caring by organizing three student-led service projects. Meanwhile, fourth and fifth grade students from Blue Mountain Elementary West participated in veterans-related service projects, including placing flags on veterans’ graves at Cressona Cemetery and visiting the Lebanon VA Medical Center.
The annual event honors the memory of Capt. Jason B. Jones while continuing a countywide tradition of volunteerism and community support throughout Schuylkill County.
Submitted Photos
