Many Hands Make Light Work

December 2005, excerpted from The Update

The 2005 Unived Way Community Care Day was a huge success. Both ITW Air Management and the IT Department at Fifth Third Bank gave it their all for the benefit of our clients at Sycamore Vista and Benton Center.

On September 6, 2005, and again on September 13, 2005, Jeff Stephenson led crews totaling about 20 people from ITW Air Management giving up their normal workday to work with the Epilepsy Foundation in completing several projects that have been on our wish list for some time. Besides the painting of a bathroom and a good majority of the interior trim, these weekend warriors busied themselves with a round paver patio, porch swing, plantings and a "tree house" completed with a Hot Wheels racetrack for use by one of our clients.

The dawn of September 14 saw cars, trucks and trailers pouring down Benton Center's driveway for the IT Department at Fifth Third's second year of Community Care Day. Jim Conrady, Cameron James and Jeremy Shubert led and organized the day's activities and enabled an incredible amount of work to be accomplished. Bob Barlett brought every tool in his arsenal and led his team into the night to complete as much of a gazebo as possible.

Bob and Bill came back on a subsequent Saturday to finish up. Jim Scott was kind enough to lend the use of a tractor for moving gravel for the drive and filling in old wells, as well as transplanting several bushes. Crews were painting the upper portion of the house and Day Activity building while repairing and cleaning gutters and widening a door way at the Day Activity building. The new fence around a portion of the pond created a park-like setting for fishing while the new trails and amphitheater back in the woods will be enjoyed by clients and visitors for many, many years.

We offer our sincerest thanks to ITW Air Management and Fifth Third for their efforts at this year's United Way Community Care Day. The wish list for next year has already begun and we look forward to partnering with these and other companies to reach out and serve those with epilepsy in our community.