Logan County’s giving spirit shines through Community Care Day

The 2024 United Way Campaign is underway after kicking off Friday, Aug. 23, with the ninth annual Community Care Day. 

More than 440 volunteers representing 48 groups from local workplaces, schools, churches and civic organizations gathered at Bellefontaine Grace Church for breakfast, and then set out to serve in all four corners of Logan County. 

“We are overwhelmed by the amount of support we saw from our friends and neighbors,” Executive Director Dave Bezusko said. “Thanks so much to everyone who came out to show just how well Logan County lives united.”

Here’s an overview of the United Way volunteers’ myriad of projects completed Friday: 

In Zanesfield: 

• The Benjamin Logan Robotics Club, Boys Soccer team, and staff from the City of Bellefontaine visited Marmon Valley Farms to deep clean the cabins and do yard work.
• A team from DMG Tool & Die provided maintenance clearing brush for the Nature Play Trail.
• The Indian Lake High School Key Club removed obstructions from trails throughout Kirkmont Center.

  

  In West Mansfield: 

• Realtors from Choice Properties landscaped a new home built by Habitat for Humanity in which a family will soon move in.
• Associates from Honda Logistics, Midwest Express, and One World Logistics teamed up to paint, clean, and sort items at the Give & Take Thrift Store and Food Pantry.

In West Liberty: 

• Parishioners and staff of Bellefontaine Grace Church did a clean-up project in West Liberty Lions Park.  
• Bankers from Civista Bank did painting and landscaping for the Village of West Liberty at the Splash Pad.
• A team from Farm Credit Mid-America worked a landscaping project in the West Liberty High School courtyard.
• Volunteers from Prescription Bliss helped clean and organize concession stands for the West Liberty Boosters.

In Urbana: 

• The Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Services Board sent staff to Caring Kitchen to help assemble a set of new benches.  

In Quincy: 

• Volunteers from Open Road Renewables completed a “spring cleaning” project for the Village in multiple municipal buildings.

In Russells Point: 

• Bankers from Civista Bank painted and landscaped at the Sandy Beach Bridge for the Indian Lake Historical Society.
• A team from Community Health & Wellness Partners did a landscaping project for the Village of Russells Point Park.
• Indian Lake Outfitters painted fencing at the archery site at Indian Lake State Park.

In Rushsylvania: 

• Volunteers from Prescription Bliss painted curbs for the Village of Rushsylvania.

In Lakeview: 

• The crew from Logan County Electric Cooperative repaired picnic tables for the Indian Lake State Park. 
• A team from Mary Rutan Health helped the Indian Lake State Park Campground with a maintenance project.

In Huntsville: 

• Volunteers from Open Road Renewables completed a painting project at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store.
• A team from World Class Plastics painted bleachers at both municipal parks.

In East Liberty: 

• Volunteers from Logan County Family Court painted multiple buildings in the Perry Township Park, including the dugouts, concession stand, restrooms, and more.

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In Bellefontaine: 

• Bellefontaine Kiwanians did “spring cleaning” at Lutheran Community Services Pantry and Thrift Store. 
• Bellefontaine Rotarians joined forces with the Logan County Special Olympics to do landscaping at the MacACheek Learning Center.
• The Benjamin Logan FFA visited the New Path Pregnancy Center to work on cleaning out a storage garage, landscaping, and indoor cleaning.
• Associates from Brentlinger & Associates and Prevention Awareness Support Services mulched playgrounds for the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District. 
• Teams from CenterPoint Energy and the First United Methodist Church in Bellefontaine served at Discovery Riders, deep cleaning the horse barns and sorting through cabinets and supplies.
• Bankers from Citizens Federal Savings & Loan and employees from the City of Bellefontaine volunteered to paint the gymnasium at the Hilliker YMCA.
• Employees from the City of Bellefontaine visited the Peak of Hope Homeless Shelter to paint, clean, and build shelving units.
• Volunteers from Daido Metal painted and stained fencing and playground equipment at Little Learners Day Christian Day School.
• A team from Logan Acres prepared a pair of bulk mailings for the United Way Campaign.
• The staff of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce paired with a team from Sweet Aromas to help RTC Services relocate furniture and equipment for two day programs, a nurse clinic, and three offices across town from one facility to another.
• Volunteers from the Logan County Family Court helped the Holland Theatre clean out and sort through items in storage.
• A crew from Marker, Inc. helped clear out old second floor offices for the next stage of renovation.  
• A team from Mary Rutan Health painted and cleaned buildings at the Logan County Fairgrounds.
• NX Automotive associates assisted the Logan County Libraries with their annual book sale.
• Peak Propane employees completed a moving project for the TCN Soteria House domestic violence shelter.
• Richwood Coffee provided complimentary coffee for all Care Day volunteers at breakfast.
• Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Patrick Church provided complimentary breakfast for all Care Day volunteers.  
• Universal Hospice staff painted the gift shop at the Logan County Friendly Senior Center.

In Belle Center: 

• A team from Ohio Hi-Point Career Center completed a painting project at the Memorial Building for the Village.  
• Volunteers from Open Road Renewables painted doors and railings for the Belle Center Library.

Throughout Logan County: 

• Teams from AGC, Bridges Community Action, and Quest Federal Credit Union delivered meals-on-wheels to homebound senior citizens with LifeCare Alliance.
• Volunteers from Benjamin Logan Schools, Logan County Department of Job & Family Services, Middlefield Bank, NX Automotive, Richwood Bank, and Universal Hospice helped sort and deliver more than 10,000 school supplies from our Stuff the Bus drive.
• Volunteers from PowerBuilt hung United Way posters in business windows and bulletin boards to help everyone know the United Way Campaign is underway.

The United Way Campaign runs through the end of the year, with a goal of $1 million.