Care Force Chronicle: Worcester, MA

© Denis Jr. Tangney/iStockphoto

Worcester, Massachusetts has experienced its fair share of challenges lately. Not only has the city seen some of the highest unemployment rates in Massachusetts due to the recent recession, but its citizens have also been forced remove thousands of trees that have fallen prey to a widespread beetle infestation. The Asian Long-horned Beetle, which burrows deep within trees, has compromised the structural integrity of many of Worcester’s trees. Tree lined streets now sit empty. As a result, the values of homes have declined and people’s lives have been altered. It is not uncommon to talk to someone in the community about the situation and notice a certain amount of distress and sadness in their voice.

This is not the end of the road for Worcester’s urban forests, though. Several organizations, including CSX and the Worcester Tree Initiative, are coming together to plant 30,000 new trees throughout the community over the next five years. None of the trees being planted are susceptible to Asian Long-horned Beetle infestation. Although the trees will take time to grow, they are a symbol of the community’s commitment to restoring their urban environment.

Team Care Force headed out to Worcester on April 21st to begin prep work for that Saturday’s tree planting and beautification event with CSX and the Worcester Tree Initiative at Burncoat High School. Our first prep day started later than usual with a visit to the Worcester Boys & Girls Club. This visit was organized by Team Care Force’s Program Manager, Wil Holbrook, who worked at this very Club for two years during graduate school. After the Unit Director, Ike McBride, gave us a tour of the facilities, we sat down for lunch and a conversation about the youth and communities that this Boys & Girls Club serves. Afterwards, we headed to Burncoat High School to begin our prep work. We proceeded to spend the afternoon cutting wood and assembling example planter benches. A few members of our team joined the local forestry department in staking locations for tree plantings in the neighborhood.

Our second day of prep work was spent tying up loose ends from the day before and making sure that all of our projects were in order. The most exhausting day of the week was our third and final day of prep. The weather warmed substantially, and two of the members of the team ended up with minor sunburns. Working with the forestry department, we identified tree planting locations throughout the grounds of Burncoat High School and Middle School. Afterward, we began delivering trees to residencies in the surrounding neighborhoods. These trees would be planted by our CSX volunteers the following day. We utilized our “stow and go” mini-vans as well as wheel barrows to complete the tiring and lengthy task.

One wheelbarrow actually doubled as a tool for a local news cameraman, when Team Care Force’s Allison Goldstein was asked to push him along the parking lot to get “the perfect shot” of trees that were awaiting delivery. We also took advantage of an opportunity to meet Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern, who was back in his home district from D.C. After several photographs and a brief conversation, we continued our work. We ended the late day with dinner a couple blocks from our hotel at Armsby Abbey, a restaurant so new to Worcester that many of the locals we spoke to had never heard of it.

The day of service was finally upon us. We checked out of the Hampton Inn before 7 a.m. and made our way to Burncoat High School. Although it was the first project of 2009 for many of us, the service day ran smoothly. Throughout the course of the day, Team Care Force led approximately 50 volunteers from CSX and the Worcester community in planting more than 100 trees at Burncoat Middle and High Schools, and in the surrounding neighborhoods. We also led volunteers in building planter benches and landscaping two courtyards at the high school. The temperature that day reached the 80 degree plus mark, but our volunteers never let up, pushing through to make sure the projects were completed. As these projects were occurring, many Worcester residents came out to claim free trees for their yards that were being handed out, courtesy of CSX.

After tying up some loose ends and restocking Care Force One, Team Care Force hit the road for the 40 mile drive back to Boston. On our way, we partook in our most unique post-event dinner to date, stopping at a travel center off of the highway and taking over the food court for half an hour. By the end of the day, the rental vehicles were returned and everybody was home. This trip definitely proved to be a different type of service week, but when all was said and done, it is safe to say that Team Care Force was proud of the contribution they were able to make to the residents of Worcester.

Team Care Force Spotlight: Tom Wingert

Hi. My name is Tom Wingert. I am 21 years old and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a fan of sports, music and nightlife, and take pride knowing that I somehow manage to balance the demanding life of a City Year Senior Corps Member and a personal life outside of work. Of course, this has required an adjustment in my sleeping schedule, but it works out.

After spending two years in Ohio at the College of Wooster, I decided to take some time off and head out to serve with City Year San Jose / Silicon Valley. During my corps year, I had the opportunity to work as a Care Force Reserve with Care Force in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and enjoyed the work so much that I decided to apply for Team Care Force.

Care Force’s mission strikes a particular chord with me. I believe that the roots of many problems lie in personal self-esteem issues, and that our community service projects can help improve a community’s self-esteem. If people show that they care and are looking out for others, then those receiving the help are more likely to care about themselves. Engaging large amounts of volunteers who may not know the people they are helping is encouraging. It shows that ordinary people are willing to help their fellow citizen, regardless of their backgrounds. The motivational spirit of our volunteers energizes me to tackle any task that comes my way on a service project, no matter how difficult. Sometimes the toughest projects turn out to be the most memorable.

My favorite experience working on Team Care Force came at a project in Winter Haven, Florida, where a variety of different elements did not fall into place as expected, and I was required to be quick on my feet and make the situation work. Since I enjoy troubleshooting on projects, I saw this as an opportunity to do some problem-solving and teach myself some new skills. I had to learn how to drive a Skid-Steer and was faced with the daunting task of moving 400 cubic feet of mulch. Two additional members of Team Care Force were flown in to assist with the project, and although it was stressful at the time, the hard work paid off and the obstacles were overcome. These things do not happen in my normal life, only in my life as a service warrior.

After my year with Team Care Force, I am going back to school at LaSalle University in Philadelphia to finish up my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Graphic Design. Eventually I hope to come back to City Year so I can be a legitimate young professional who wears sweatshirts and fleece vests to work.

TCF's Own Allison Goldstein Dominates, Brings Home the Gold at HQ Muffin-Off

On Wednesday, April 8th, Team Care Force's Allison Goldstein walked into the City Year Headquarters of Idealism, determined to make her mark on the HQ community and take home the coveted Wooden Spoon. Little did she know, but that morning she was destined for glory. With sweat on her brow, fire in her eyes and a platter of cinnamon chip cheesecake crunch muffins in her hand, she stepped out onto the playing field. As she approached the muffin judging table though, Goldstein could see that her competition was serious and would not give in without a fight.

“I was a little sore from all the whisking the night before, and the to-scale replica of Fenway Park covered in muffin paraphernalia threw me off at first,” Goldstein said. “But I knew that if I was focused and just went out there and did my best I would have a shot at that spoon.”

Amongst a sea of hungry onlookers and unforgiving judges, Goldstein remained steadfast, never taking her eyes off of the doughy prize. As pressure in the room mounted, she felt herself beginning to feel the heat.

“There was definitely a buzz amongst the crowd, which really got my adrenaline pumping. Plus, you never know when the next Nancy Kerrigan / Tonya Harding incident is going to happen, so you always have to watch your back,” Goldstein stated.

In the waning minutes, the competition continued to look fierce, but Goldstein kept her cool. Well aware of her underdog status and the serious game that Muffin-Off reigning champ Andy Dean was bringing to the table, literally and figuratively, Goldstein knew that if she could just keep her focus and pace, she may just have a chance of pulling off an upset.

“I like to picture myself as a Kenyan marathon runner,” Goldstein commented. “I try to keep it at a five minute mile for the first 20 miles or so, then catch the competition off guard by picking up the pace for the final six.”

That final sprint is exactly what would usher in the transferring of the Wooden Spoon to the hands of a new champion. With things looking like they may be heading Dean’s way, Goldstein cut across the field in a manner that can only be described as the combination of grace and stealth joining forces with unwavering tenacity. To be on the winning end of such a combination is to experience pure triumph, but to be on receiving end is not something anyone should ever hope to be subjected.

As the clock drew to a close and the Master of Ceremonies, Sean McDevitt, began speaking, a hush fell across the muffin-filled crowd. Then it was announced. Not only had Goldstein captured the official judges’ Wooden Spoon, but she also became the first ever recipient of the Golden Muffin Pan, the people’s choice award.

Goldstein’s muffin display, which was based on the Jewish holiday of Passover, helped her secure her prizes. As they approached Goldstein’s section, HQ muffin aficionados were treated to a scene where houses constructed from matzah lined a street, complete with red paint above their doorways. Only after the muffin appreciators had “passed over” all of the houses were they presented with a larger door, behind which stood a platter of leavened cinnamon chip cheesecake crunch muffins.

After the initial shock of her victory had receded, Goldstein hoisted her prizes above her head and took in the moment. Her tired and weary opponents could only look on, disappointed and awestruck by the defeat that had just claimed them.

“When Sean announced that I had won not just one of the prizes but both of them, my first instinct was to sprint down Columbus Avenue, screaming and waving my quarter zip around my head. Instead, I just performed a short victory jig that I had been rehearsing for a couple weeks prior, just in case,” said an ecstatic Goldstein.

But Goldstein was not quick to take all of the credit.

“This isn’t a personal victory; this is also a team victory. Team Care Force never doubted me or questioned my intentions when I was building matzah houses at the office. They just gave me 100% pure love.”

And after all is said and done, and the last contestant has left the building and the last muffin has been reduced to only crumbles, love is all a batch of muffins really needs.

Reporting by Joel Shuherk