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WILKES-BARRE — Wednesday was a day to bring together those looking to help others, and to honor some who have long done so.
Amid pumping music and piping hot breakfast sandwiches, the United Way of Wyoming Valley kicked off its 27th annual Day of Caring with a morning rally at Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel and Conference Center.
It was a chance to address some of the 853 volunteers from 65 organizations before they headed out to work on 50 projects for community non-profit causes.
It was a chance to thank local companies and their employees who donated to the United Way over the past year.
It also was an opportunity to recognize two people for their special contributions to area communities, and Times Leader readers will surely recognize the name of one honoree.
“It is the giving, volunteering and advocacy on behalf of those in need that has been the hallmark of the United Way of Wyoming Valley since our founding in 1921,” CEO Bill Jones told the crowd, many of whom were wearing distinctive blue Day of Caring t-shirts.
“After 98 years, that wonderful spirit remains prominent today and is clearly on display this morning,” Jones added.
Based on the national standard for the value of an hour of volunteer service, United Way officials estimated that Wednesday’s efforts would be worth $129,000 in support to the Wyoming Valley, Jones said, “and that’s something to celebrate.”
Jones also underscored the United Way’s own programs, notably its focus on fighting childhood poverty in the region.
A new project
One of those volunteer efforts is “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” a national initiative to create beds for children who lack them, making its Luzerne County debut.
“I was introduced to Sleep in Heavenly Peace last June while on a business/vacation trip in Salt Lake City Utah for my Young Living Essential Oils business 3girlsoils,LLC,” organizer Denise Ogurkis said.
“On a day when it was 90 degrees, we built beds from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.,” Ogurkis recalled.
“While watching the process and hearing how building these beds keep children from sleeping on the floor it hit home for me. You see I come from an extremely poor family. As a child we lived in South Boston in the projects and having six siblings, three sisters and I shared a bunkbed,” she said.
“This nonprofit spoke to me.”
Upon her return, Ogurkis immediately reached out to the organization to find out how she could bring a chapter to Luzerne County.
“I have been in training since and upon my last training in January 2019 I am humbled and honored to say that I have successfully launched Sleep in Heavenly Peace Luzerne County where no kid sleeps on the floor in our town,” she said.
Wednesday was a success, but also underscored the need: 27 beds were constructed — but, as Ogurkis said, “We have over 100 requests and that was before we built a thing.”
Sleep in Heavenly Peace was aided in its efforts by Tara Mugford Wilson of Power Engineering Corp. in Plains Township, where the building took place, as well as by the United Way, volunteers and volunteers from Creative Benefits Inc., Ogurkis said.
“My team and I have been in fundraising mode. We will always be in fundraising mode,” she said. “We need to continue to have funds so that we can follow our mission to keep the kids off of the floor in our town. Donations help us purchase the lumber, supplies and tools that we need.”
Honorees
Bill O’Boyle, a reporter/columnist for the Times Leader and long-time advocate for a number of organizations which support children and adults who face intellectual and physical challenges — most notably through the Challenger Baseball League and Victory Sports — received the United Way’s Rose Brader Community Service Award, the agency’s highest honor for volunteerism. Brader worked at the United Way for 31 years and was dedicated to health and human service causes.
“He has distingquished himself as someone who quietly has spent decades supporting causes and helping people who needed help and support,” Jones said.
In an emotional speech, O’Boyle praised the United Way and the Day of Caring “for helping organizations that desperately need your help.”
Amy Bluhm, an elementary school teacher in the Crestwood School District, as well as a volunteer for a host of school and community activities and events, received the Sarah and Anthony Kane, Jr. Achievement Award.
Bill Kane, president of the Crestwood Education Association, said Bluhm is “not only an incredible influence on the children she teaches, but was also nomimated for the extra care she gives her students, especially those in need.”
Bluhm has coordinated the Fairview Elementary Holiday Toy Drive for the past seven years, he said, collects winter clothing, volunteers for two school book fairs, “works tirelessly with the PTA after school,” raised over $1,500 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, as well as raising funds for a middle school student who was battling cancer, among many efforts.
