United Way "Day of Caring"

A record 260 volunteers have walked off their jobs today – with the blessing of their employers – to pitch in and help out non-profit agencies throughout Genesee County.
It is the United Way Day of caring.
It began this morning with opening ceremonies and a welcome from former Buffalo Bills great Mark Kelso:

"Congratulations to the community of Batavia for the effort you are putting forth today and hopefully you will accomplish all the task's you set out to do."

Volunteers are gardening, painting, hanging wallpaper.
Ted Yasses of LeRoy was part of the team from Graham Corporation. They were working outside of Go-Art:

"We have flowers that need to be planted, bushes that need to be trimmed, and we'll be doing some inside painting as well."

PHOTO: Team Graham Corp.: From Left: Ted Yasses, Dan Harvey, Cindy Copper, Nina Stevens and Fred Amey 

 Yet another group of volunteers, from Five Star Bank, were dispatched to the State School for the Blind in Batavia. There they were met by School Superintendent Dr. Mathis Calvin:

"We have volunteers working with our kids pianting signs and birdhouses for our nature trail and we are renovating one of our playgrounds."

PHOTO: NYS School for the Blind student Amalisa, seated, Superintendent Dr. Mathis Calvin and Five Star Bank volunteer Katie Neff.

 PHOTO: Volunteers Ursula Jones, left, from UMMC and Danielle Ralph, from Target, plant flowers outside the admissions entrance of the hospital

Volunteers from the Day of Caring worked at 48 projects throughout the county. Organizers said volunteers represented 53 companies.