The Peru Gazette

On Saturday, April 27^th, 2013 volunteers across Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties will lend their hand to the annual Day of Caring event hosted by United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc., North Country Regional Volunteer Center, Project H.E.L.P. at SUNY Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.  With the help of more than 400 volunteers from the three counties and students from Project H.E.L.P., over 70 projects will be completed.  Throughout the day volunteers will donate time to 15 non-profit organizations, 40 residential areas, 12 non-profit tourism attractions and 3 nursing homes. Kathy Snow, Director of Development of the Adirondack Region, Inc. stated “The Day of Caring is a tremendous opportunity for people through-out Clinton, Essex, and Franklin Counties to come together for friends and neighbors and to help maintain the unique quality of life in this area.”

Local residents who are unable to volunteer are still able to participate in the day by donating food.  There is a food drive manned by volunteers at Sam’s Club in Plattsburgh and drop off points at Price Chopper and Hannaford’s in Plattsburgh.  In Malone the drop offs are at Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, Yando IGA, Kinney Drugs (Up-town and downtown), Walgreens, Citizen Advocates, Maple Fields, Chamber of Commerce and the American Legion Post 219 on Morton Street. Volunteers will pick up the food items through-out the day.

“Our region’s best resource is its people who live, work, and learn right here in the North Country.  Students, professionals, families, friends, and neighbors have a tradition of coming together, as demonstrated during the Ice Storm, Hurricane Irene, and the meeting of the day to day needs of our neighbors.  The Day of Caring is just another example of how we live united.” Michael Cashman, Assistant Director of Campus Activities at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Focused on addressing some of the urgent needs in our community this year’s event expanded its scope to include non-profit museums, libraries and Nursing Homes. Kristy Kennedy, Group & Event Specialist for the Adirondack Cost Visitors Bureau, a division of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, stated, “ We feel it’s vital to the health of our community to be able to reach out and support our non-profit museums. We are also encouraging volunteers from the tourism industry to step up and get involved.  It’s a win-win for everyone.”