Air Products and Chemicals employees of Hometown spent a full work day providing needed manpower support to area organizations as part of the Schuylkill United Way's annual Day of Caring held recently. Some organizations receiving help consisted of the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, Avenues of Pottsville, Tamaqua YMCA, Tamaqua Salvation Army, Marian Catholic School and others.

Suzanne Staloski and Tom Cara, who served as local project coordinators with Air Products, provided brief details regarding the work done by their employees. One of the projects involved replacing belts, clearing drains and vacuuming ceiling and wall heaters at Marian Catholic High School. Other projects involved replacing lights and painting the Tamaqua YMCA walls, holding a bowling party with Avenues consumers of Mahanoy City and organizing landscaping, painting, cleaning and contracting projects at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center."With over 190 people volunteering from Friday and Saturday, we were able to complete over 19 projects at our agencies and 22 overall with the help of Air Products and Kiwanis who partnered with us for Day of Caring," saidWilliam J. Folk, Schuylkill United Way. "This helped 12 of our agencies to improve their facilities or programs."Over 15 partner agencies with the Schuylkill United Way benefited from the Day of Caring. Some were Avenues of Mahanoy City, Boy Scouts -Hawk Mt. Council, Child Development, SARCC, Salvation Army - Pottsville, Salvation Army - Tamaqua, Schuylkill County Society for Crippled Children, Schuylkill Wellness Services, Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Schuylkill YMCA, Tamaqua Meals on Wheels, Tamaqua YMCA, Tamaqua Community Arts Center.Representatives with the Schuylkill United Way, who stressed their appreciation to Air Products, added that a number of other organizations participated during the Day of Caring. Others mentioned were Alfred Benesch and Company, Gordon Food Service, Kiwanis Club of Pottsville, Kohl's, Lowe's RDC 961, Magic Carpet Travel Service, McCann School of Business, M&T Bank, National Penn Bank, Pennsylvania Jaycees, PPL, Rotary Club of Pottsville, Schuylkill IU 29 - Students from Michael Stock's class, Susquehanna Bank, Team Orwigsburg, Tobash Insurance Agency, Wal-Mart DC #7030, Wegmans RSC. They also gave special credit to a few individuals, to include: Kevin Schlear, Charley Ramos, Theresa Gaffney, Mal Bartram and others."On behalf of the Schuylkill United Way staff and our 15 partner agencies, we would like to extend a thank you to all the individuals, companies, and organizations that contributed to another successful Day of Caring," said Folk. "Words cannot describe the impact that the hard work and dedication from each of over 190 volunteers has helped our agencies tremendously. Our Day of Caring would not have been a success without their commitment to helping others. We are proud to have so many eager volunteers participate in our Day of Caring who are dedicated to the betterment of the community in which we work and live."Folk added that Air Products has been a yearly support of the Schuylkill United Way and their Day of Caring.