More than a dozen Lab employees participated in the United Way's "Day of Caring" on Sept 9. It is a day set aside each September when area businesses and organizations allow their employees to take part in volunteer projects helping community nonprofit organizations during normal work hours.

Fourteen Lab employees raised their hands this year to volunteer for projects ranging from constructing a deck for a local YMCA to doing office work and delivering meals to the housebound.

JLab participants include (l to r) Rick Gonzales, Lee Broeker, Bill Kozma, Ivy Thomas, Christine Hummel, Shilda Williams and Don Bullard. Volunteers not available for the photo include Brian Carpenter, Isiah Daniels, Tiffany McKinney, Mark Ito, Pat Morton, Christine Snetter and April Rose.

Ivy Thomas, Business Services, has participated in Day of Caring for the last five years. "For four of those five years, I've donated my time to help senior citizens. They're so appreciative of the time I spend with them and the help I provide - that's my reward. I look forward to this every year. Shilda (Williams) and I team up and go to the same places."

This was the first year for Accelerator operator, April Rose. She weeded and mulched flower beds and helped with painting projects at On the Hill Cultural Arts Center. "I was really tired at the end of the day," Rose said, "but I felt really great. I met many people from area businesses and NASA. This is a fantastic way to help the community. I had a great time and I'm already looking forward to doing this again next year."

Thanks to cooperative supervisors, Rick Gonzales and Isiah Daniels, both from Accelerator Division, returned to a local YMCA the next day to finish a deck they started building on Sept. 9. "We got rained out Thursday afternoon, but we finished the deck the next day and it turned out fine," Gonzales said. "I was delighted that our bosses were gracious enough to give us time off to finish the job."

The Lab has participated in Day of Caring since 1994, according to project coordinator Shilda Williams. "Thanks to all our hard-working volunteers. We had our best turn out ever this year."

maintained by webmaster@jlab.org