Sept. 28, 2004 The United Way of St. Thomas-St. John has put out the "help wanted" sign for its first Day of Caring in St. John.
The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 23, at Julius E. Sprauve School. Volunteers will spruce up the Winston Wells Ballfield, located next to the school, and start construction on a pocket playground at the Clarice Thomas Annex. The Annex sits across the street from the ballfield.
"Many people want to volunteer, but are so time-strapped. This is a way to give back to the community in a short time," Thyra Hammond, who serves as United Way's direction, said Tuesday.
Carole DeSenne, director of the St. John Community Foundation and United Way's St. John chairman, said the project is a way to introduce United Way to St. John residents. She said that without the United Way's help, the Community Foundation would not be able to operate its Dial-A-Ride program.
"I don't think a lot of people in St. John are aware of all the things United Way does in St. John," DeSenne said.
Hammond said work at the Winston Wells Ballfield includes plastering and painting the dugout and walls around the field. Benches for the dugouts will be built and the front of the school landscaped.
DeSenne said the pocket playground at the Annex needs landscapers and architects to develop a master plan for the volunteers to implement.
Sprauve School principal Mario Francis said the Annex students need a playground because they now have to cross a busy street to get to the Winston Wells Ballfield for physical education.
Hammond said last year, more than 400 volunteers beautified the Charlotte Amalie High School campus in St. Thomas.
This is the sixth year that United Way has organized a Day of Caring.
To volunteer or learn more about the Day of Caring, call DeSenne at 693-9410 or the United Way office at 774-3185.
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