SitemapNearly two dozen blighted homes in Youngstown received a clean-up on Friday and all of the work was done my volunteers.
Nearly six hundred people turned out to be a part of the United Way's 17th annual "Day of Caring." Following a kick-off breakfast in the parking lot of the Covelli Centre the volunteers were divided into teams and headed out to tackle their projects.
Arriving on Youngstown's north side the volunteer teams got their marching orders from project managers like Liberty Merrill from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.
"We've got this house and then the next two" Merrill told one team of volunteers, who then selected a tool and went to work
The volunteers had taken a day off from their jobs and daily routines to spend the day giving back to the community.
"I always wanted to help the community and take part in something this great" said Samantha Vona who volunteered on her day off from her regular job
It's hot work for volunteers like Joe Mashorda of Austintown but he didn't mind at all.
"It's great to be a part of it, I'm sweating a little bit today but it's all worth it" said Mashorda. A group of sixteen students from Boardman High School teamed up on one blighted home.
"It's a good opportunity to show people in the community that we care and we want to help them, and it's a good representation of Boardman and how much we want to help people too" said Boardman High Junior Kristen Fernbert.
Neighbors say they can't keep up the abandoned properties and appreciate seeing so many people who are willing to give of their time to help.
"It's a very good improvement, the neighborhood is looking a lot better now because they've taken charge to try and get some of this down" said Alvin Agard of Lora Avenue.
Other volunteers spent the Day of Caring helping out with projects at 17 different non-profit agencies.
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