DAY OF CARING

Lisa Sutton, left, and Doug Rowe, employees of Target, helped Marvin Spurlock assemble shelving at the Salvation Army.

Beatrice Proffer, left, had her meal delivered to her home by Jill Venezian who volunteered her time on the Day of Caring with the Cape Girardeau Senior Center.

Jo Ann Barrett, a volunteer with Ameritech, helped clean the toys used by children at the Lutheran Family and Children's Services.

Danny Yarbrough methodically color-coded envelopes for fund-raising letters being sent by the American Red Cross.

As he stamped and stuffed, Yarbrough, a lineman with Union Electric, explained that several years ago he had a fall accident and United Way agencies helped him. Since then, he has been a firm supporter of United Way.

Last week, Yarbrough had a chance to help the Area Wide United Way by volunteering for a day with the American Red Cross during the first Day of Caring.

Union Electric sent two volunteers to help at the Red Cross office. "I've always been a supporter of the United Way," Yarbrough said. "I've always donated money, but it's been very enlightening to see what the money really does."

Cathy McCarty, who also works for Union Electric as a cashier, was helping the Red Cross catch up on paperwork and filing. Earlier, she had a chance to tour VIP Industries. She was impressed with both operations.

"I always gave to the United Way in the past without really thinking about it," McCarty said. "This really made me personally see how my contribution can affect someone's life."

Volunteers are an essential to the Red Cross, said Mary Burton, executive director. During the summer flooding, for example, two paid staff and 200 volunteers daily operated relief efforts.

Burton said some agency directors in other parts of the country fear that the volunteer spirit in America is waning. She doesn't buy it. "Maybe we don't ask," she said. "When I know there is a need out there, I'm ready to help."

The Day of Caring held Sept. 20 brought volunteers into some agencies who receive money from the United Way. The object of the day is to give individuals who donate to the United Way a chance to see their dollars at work.

A fund-raising campaign is under way to raise $500,000 to help fund 24 service agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

At the same time, the volunteers had a chance to learn more about the agencies.

Janet Esicar and Michele Tomlinson of Boatmen's Bank spent the morning with children at the Family Learning Center, a day-treatment program for children who have been abused or neglected or who have behavioral problems.

The volunteers read books, played basketball and romped on the center's playground with the children in the program.

"I had never been here and I had no idea what they did," Esicar said, as the 3- and 4-year-olds whizzed by on tricycles and scrambled down the slide. "The kind of work they do is just amazing."

Karen Lunsford, assistant coordinator of the program, said many people don't know about the Family Learning Center and hopes that the Boatmen's volunteers can help spread the message.

The program serves children from ages 2 1/2 to 5. Although it looks like a daycare center, the program offers therapy and counseling for the youngsters and their families.

"If we can get in there and help a child and the family at this early age, we can help the child function in everyday life," Lunsford said.

At Lutheran Family and Children's Services, volunteers helped organize and catalog a library of videotapes, cassette tapes and books available to people dealing with issues ranging from divorce to adoption. They always scrubbed up the toys used by therapists who work with children.

The center provides counseling for a variety of different groups including couples, individuals, single expectant parents, the elderly, and offers adoption services.

Cara Myer, a volunteer from Ameritech, said she knew that the agency existed because she heard it mentioned in church, but she didn't know all the services offered.

"I haven't really had a need," she said.

Donna Hanschen, who is chairman of this year's fund drive, was also an Ameritech volunteer at Lutheran Family and Children's Services.

Several years ago, Hanschen got counseling through the center as she went through a divorce. "As much as I needed help then, I want to make sure that help is available to other people," she said.

Jo Ann Barrett didn't know the agency existed. "With two children myself, it's nice to know these services are available if I ever need them."

At the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, volunteers headed out with hot meals for older adults who can't come to the center for lunch.

"I think lots of people would have to be in nursing homes without this service," said Joan Weeks. "And who knows, it might be me some day."

Jill Venezian, a local attorney, said she, too, saw a need for volunteer help and decided to step in.

Grace Hoover with the Senior Center said, "I think this is real nice to get these volunteers out into the agencies."

Hoover said most people associate the center with the noon lunch program, but lots more is happening at the center.

"We have educational programs, a morning exercise program, recreational activities. People are here playing cards, doing puzzles, quilting," he said.

In addition, the center serves as a location for other agencies to provide services to older adults, Hoover said.

A six-member team of volunteers from Target worked at the Salvation Army organizing the food pantry. The pantry was in disarray with cases of canned goods stacked in the room alongside donated shelves that had never been assembled.

The team cleared out the storeroom, put the shelves together and helped organize the food so Salvation Army staff and volunteers can distribute the items more efficiently.

"We never would have been able to do this without their help," said Capt. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army.