Red paint splashed across their clothes as they splashed new colour over the old red benches the club uses to keep kids organized. The ladies were experiencing firsthand the real purpose behind the United Way.
“A lot of people don’t know what it is the United Way does,” said Ginger Stoddard, who chaired this year’s edition of the United Way Colchester Women United Day of Caring event. “They say, ‘Well, they’re the United Way. They give money to people who need it.’ But it’s so much more than that.”
The event pulls together teams of women who set a fundraising goal to work towards, with the money going towards different community groups in the end. Rather than just give the money away, however, the teams will split off to the different community groups and put the work in themselves.
Aside from the Boys and Girls Club, United Way Colchester had teams at Maggie’s Place, the Colchester Community Workshop and the Colchester Food Bank.
“I got started with the group at the beginning of the summer,” said Darleen MacKeen Hudson as she put the finishing touches on the bench. “I have summers off, so I figured why not give something back?”
She soon became hooked on the United Way’s hands-on method of charity, and even hosted her own event.
“I just really enjoy seeing where the money is going and learning about the different places we go to.”
Over at Maggie’s Place, a different team was also learning a lot about their choice.
“I probably spent too much time this morning telling them all about Maggie’s Place and what our mission is here,” said Linda Legere, executive director at the family-oriented facility.
Since moving into the building in March, Legere and Co. have been spreading the word on their programs, that include parent education and support, as well as youth-focused and pre/post natal programs
“It’s been a really great experience to learn about what they do here,” said team member Jane Armsworthy while taking a break from painting a bathroom.
“It’s a great way to get to know your community and give back at the same time,” added her teammate Jennifer Hamilton Upham, who previously took a turn chairing the event.
Educating people on the facility is just as important, if not more, than the minor facelift the building got on Saturday, Legere said.
“It’s a goal of ours here to open the place up to the community and let everyone know what we do here. The more people we can reach, the better.”
The 10 participating teams each aimed to raise $2,000 apiece. While a final tally was not in yet, Stoddard was hopeful they’d hit their goal.
Red paint splashed across their clothes as they splashed new colour over the old red benches the club uses to keep kids organized. The ladies were experiencing firsthand the real purpose behind the United Way.
“A lot of people don’t know what it is the United Way does,” said Ginger Stoddard, who chaired this year’s edition of the United Way Colchester Women United Day of Caring event. “They say, ‘Well, they’re the United Way. They give money to people who need it.’ But it’s so much more than that.”
The event pulls together teams of women who set a fundraising goal to work towards, with the money going towards different community groups in the end. Rather than just give the money away, however, the teams will split off to the different community groups and put the work in themselves.
Aside from the Boys and Girls Club, United Way Colchester had teams at Maggie’s Place, the Colchester Community Workshop and the Colchester Food Bank.
“I got started with the group at the beginning of the summer,” said Darleen MacKeen Hudson as she put the finishing touches on the bench. “I have summers off, so I figured why not give something back?”
She soon became hooked on the United Way’s hands-on method of charity, and even hosted her own event.
“I just really enjoy seeing where the money is going and learning about the different places we go to.”
Over at Maggie’s Place, a different team was also learning a lot about their choice.
“I probably spent too much time this morning telling them all about Maggie’s Place and what our mission is here,” said Linda Legere, executive director at the family-oriented facility.
Since moving into the building in March, Legere and Co. have been spreading the word on their programs, that include parent education and support, as well as youth-focused and pre/post natal programs
“It’s been a really great experience to learn about what they do here,” said team member Jane Armsworthy while taking a break from painting a bathroom.
“It’s a great way to get to know your community and give back at the same time,” added her teammate Jennifer Hamilton Upham, who previously took a turn chairing the event.
Educating people on the facility is just as important, if not more, than the minor facelift the building got on Saturday, Legere said.
“It’s a goal of ours here to open the place up to the community and let everyone know what we do here. The more people we can reach, the better.”
The 10 participating teams each aimed to raise $2,000 apiece. While a final tally was not in yet, Stoddard was hopeful they’d hit their goal.
