SitemapAn army of volunteers from Mahoning Valley businesses and organizations will focus on cleaning up a neighborhood on the North Side as part of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s annual Day of Caring, which will take place Sept. 5.
About 275 of the more than 550 registered volunteers for the event, which is being sponsored by NYO Property Group and Lowe’s, will spend the day in a three-block area between Fifth and Ohio avenues, focusing on 21 blighted homes on Fairgreen, Lora and Norwood avenues. Volunteers will clean up debris and overgrown vegetation and board up vacant homes.
The Day of Caring will also kick off the United Way chapter’s 2014 annual campaign. At a breakfast that will take place at the Covelli Centre, Hannon and Ed and Chris Muransky, who will co-chair the campaign, will announce this year’s goals. Jim Tressel, president of Youngstown State University, will also speak at the event.
Last year, the United Way chapter and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. targeted a smaller area in another North Side neighborhood. The rest of the volunteers are assigned projects at 17 different nonprofit agencies.
“The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley decided to take our Day of Caring to the next level and make a larger impact in our community,” said Bob Hannon, area United Way president. “So we decided to team up with YNDC and Green Youngstown to revitalize a neighborhood on Youngstown’s north side.”
“YNDC is very excited to join United Way and the city of Youngstown for the Day of Caring,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director. “This is a huge first step in implementing the Crandall Park neighborhood action plan, as we fight blight at 21 vacant homes.”
Day of Caring sponsors include State Farm, Aim NationaLease, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Dearing Compressor and Pump, Huntington Bank, Park Vista, Sam’s Club and Simon Roofing.
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