Giving back

Every year thousands of volunteers pitch in as part of Trident United Way’s Day of Caring.

More than 250 community service projects took place in the tri-county area Nov. 18 as part of this year’s big event.

Such was the case at the brand new Sand Hill Elementary, where volunteers from the Bank of South Carolina cleaned up debris, did some landscape improvements, cleaned up the computer labs and painted four-square sets for students to play in.

David Gregorie, credit analyst with the bank, said the bank has always been very supportive of Trident United Way and has donated more than $1 million to the organization over time.

“This (Day of Caring) is one of the main things we do,” he said.

Bank of South Carolina employees were joined outside by Ashley Ridge High school horticulture students, who built a “hoop coop” for the school – a type of chicken coop that can move. The school was also donating four chickens for the elementary school to take care of.

Ben Gibson, agriculture instructor, said is a very easily replicated project. Lowe’s donated much of the materials for both the students and the bank volunteers.

Gibson said Ashley Ridge likes to give back and “show the kids that we can volunteer at places other than our own place.”

Tenth-grader Madison Byars said it was fun coming out and seeing the elementary school students; the high school brought along with them a male baby miniature potbellied pigs named Porkchop for the elementary students to pet.

“I think they’ll really enjoy having a chicken coop out here with the chickens,” Byars said.

Principal Wally Baird and Assistant Principal Annette Roper said they were very appreciative of the volunteers, saying they jumped in to help out with things the school has not had time to focus on yet.

Baird said excellent schools come with strong community support.

“It can only get better and better,” he said.

At Dorchester Children’s Center, a group of Cummins employees was on their third day of work for this year’s Day of Caring. They started a demolition project on an older building on the property last week and were finishing up Friday.

By doing all the demo work, said liaison Jake Sunding, the group is able to help the center reduce its costs to renovate the building, which was originally a small apartment building.

Since then, he’s organized a volunteer group at his employer to work with the center for each year’s Day of Caring. In past years, Cummins employees have painted, renovated a shed and built shelves to hold the center’s extensive files.

This year’s volunteers included employees from Cummins Marine and Cummins Turbo Technologies.

At the George H. Seago Library in Summerville, volunteers with the University School of the Lowcountry in Mt. Pleasant conducted beautification efforts. According to Jennie Redmond, executive director for the Dorchester County Public Library, volunteers pressure-washed the front sign and sidewalk, raked and scooped up leaves and trimmed hedges on the property.

“They do a lot of community service,” Redmond said of the group. “They did a good job for us.”

Robyn Wittenberg Dudley, who volunteers with the Summerville Dorchester Museum, welcomed the assistance of Lincoln Electric Company workers to improve the museum’s outdoor walkway and paint a few window frames.

“This makes it a more pleasant place for people to come to and learn about Summerville history,” Dudley said. “I’m very gratified by the outpouring of support from the community for this museum,” Dudley said.

Jesse Wilson, a plant manager Lincoln Electric, said he was happy to escape the regular routine of retrofitting cutting machines and work alongside coworkers to touch-up one the town’s precious facilities.

This was Lincoln Electric in Ladson’s first year participating in Day of Caring.

“It’s kind of a win-win for us because we get to get away from the grind of the things we do every day and see each other in a different light,” Wilson said. “It’s good for everyone.”

Leslie Cantu, Jenna-Ley Harrison and Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr. contrib