Last Wednesday, Child and Family Services welcomed over 100 Wegmans employees to our Delaware Campus in Buffalo and Community Residence in Cheektowaga for United Way’s annual Day of Caring. The team came eager to work and their impact was felt all around.
Split into groups, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and took on a range of projects. Some freshened up the landscaping, while others planted a new sensory garden. Inside, volunteers organized donations, sorted through toys and games and deep cleaned visitation rooms, art spaces and storage areas. Smiling faces could be seen at every project, no matter the task at hand.
“The Day of Caring went so well,” said Monica Bruce, Director of Facilities Planning and Operations at C+FS. “I was amazed at how organized everything was and how much got done. Even when it started to rain, it did not stop the volunteers from working on their projects. In fact, they all started to sing along to the music that was playing and had a good time with it.”
Even when the weather shifted from rain to sun and back again, the energy remained high. With the C+FS staff offering guidance throughout the day, it quickly became a shared community effort.
“Last Wednesday was so special,” said Sandy Falsone, Learning and Development Specialist for Wegmans’ Buffalo Division. “Our participating employees are still talking about their experience, the projects they worked on, the people they met and the deeper understanding they have of what C+FS does in our community.”
By the end of the day, dumpsters were full, the sensory garden was brighter and rooms were cleaner. More than that, bonds were formed among the volunteers and C+FS team, all united by a shared mission of creating a safe and welcoming space for the families we serve.