From Shelter to Stability
Volunteers Participate in HandsOn Day Richmond
October 16, 2010
Approximately 42 individuals who included families, friends and coworkers of UPS Freight gathered at CARITAS on October 16, 2010 to be a part of HandsOn Day Richmond. The event sponsored by HandsOn Greater Richmond, is a nonprofit organization which connects individuals, families, teams, and groups with volunteer opportunities within the Richmond area. Americorps members Alida Barden and Catherine Grier took the lead in planning and making sure everything was ready and in place for the volunteers. UPS’s onsite project captain, Alicia Green, coordinator John Sebastian and volunteers all devoted over four hours of their time and energy to dresser builds and outside beautification projects on behalf of CARITAS.
The work day for the volunteers, which began around 10:00 a.m. was not the only thing sunny, so were their faces as they chatted, laughed and made great progress in their assigned efforts.
CARITAS Volunteer Director, Sharon Drescher gave a brief overview of the history of CARITAS, the Shelter, Furniture Bank and the latest program called The Works. However, it was the personal story shared by CARITAS employee James Taylor, which provided tangible evidence of the impact volunteers just like those seated in the room, could make. James slowly raised his head and spoke softy of how he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. He told of how he lost everything of value to him- his family, his home, his business and how eventually became homeless. Fortunately for Taylor, he went through a12 step program at The Healing Place, is now sober, employed and gives back by being a role model for others heading down the path he was once on. “This was an opportunity to bring people together. I will share about what I learned today and the things that you are doing. Everyone is starting to understand the big picture,” said Sebastian.
