Care Force In the News

Check out these great photos of our service event in Charleston, SC from the Post and Courier Daily Newspaper.

See pictures of the murals completed at the Salvation Army Community Center, Team Care Force Senior Corps Member Steadman Graves, ARAMARK volunteers, and more!

Care Force Chronicle- Charleston, SC

 By Phillip St. Clair





A new mural bench built for

the playground area.



Partner: ARAMARK

Volunteers: 125 volunteers

Service Partner: The Salvation Army

When: November 7-10, 2010

TCF: Dylan Morrill, Georgia Lawrence, Flo Capinding, Steadman Graves, Phillip St. Clair; Project Manager Huw McDonald

Reserves: City Year Washington, D.C. Senior Corps Member Daniel Lawson

After a plane ride from Boston, MA to Charlotte, NC, and then a quick jump from Charlotte to Charleston, SC, we were in the South and I was glad to be back. Having grown up in North Carolina, it was comforting for me to be in a familiar place. We arrived at our hotel, the cylindrical Holiday Inn, located right in the middle of the Ashley River. We had an amazing view of the water from the rooftop restaurant and spirits were high that evening since we had escaped the rainy weather in Boston.

It was unusually cold when we arrived at the service site the next morning and I thought, “Oh great, I was excited to come South for warm weather.” Soon the Director of the Salvation Army, Emily Sawyer, came out to greet us and show us around. We were then given innumerous cups of coffee and hot chocolate and told that if we need anything to just ask. Our prep was easy enough and we were making good headway. To make things even better, the sun came out and it warmed up a lot. I hadn’t worked with Georgia, Steadman, and Flo in a while, and had just met Daniel, but this week just flowed. We knew what we had to do and never ended up rushing or even feeling rushed to do anything. Steadman and I even caught ourselves taking half court shots every now and then. That was of course only after we had finished the tasks in front of us.



Steadman Graves leads his

volunteers in a spirit break.



Our prep week was slightly altered by a group of ARAMARK employees who could not make the service day but still wanted to come out and help. On Monday, we had the 10 volunteers successfully clean up and rebuild a kickball field that the kids truly wanted. Before the field restoration, the kids had been playing in the parking lot. It was really great to see people giving up their time to come out and help before the actual service day.



ARAMARK volunteers paint a
mural in the gymnasium.



The service day was extremely successful for everyone involved and for me especially. I was able to simply converse with my volunteers throughout the entire day which was new for me. I had been on lots of projects that are very spread out or just labor intensive. This project I was contained in one room with 10 volunteers whose task was to paint. I got to crack jokes and discuss my university with a volunteer who was an alumnus. Without much push my volunteers were able to finish five backs for the mural benches and two large wall murals. This was by far the most laid back service day I have had to date, and overall we got a lot accomplished. The lower half of the entire gymnasium and two wall murals were painted and plywood vent covers were assembled. ARAMARK installed a brand new playground set, and added mulch, five mural benches, and two new picnic tables to the area. There is now also an outdoor classroom and playground murals as well as 5 garden beds for the Rain Garden. At the closing ceremony, all of the volunteers and the staff of the Salvation Army said they were impressed at how well organized and prepared Care Force was and that is always a boost of confidence.



ARAMARK volunteers getting some

more paint for their murals.



An ARAMARK volunteer painting

a new hopscotch on the ground.

  

We were also able to indulge in some great Southern food at Jestine's Kitchen and Hymans Seafood. After hearing about what we do, the staff at Hymans gave us free coupons for fresh ice cream and all the hushpuppies we wanted. After dinner, some of us went and hung out with friends of mine in Charleston and had a great time talking by a fire and playing pool outside. I always forget how good it makes you feel when you can reunite with friends you haven’t seen in a long time. This trip was so laid back and cool that I can’t help but think it was due to Charleston, SC and the people who live there. The aura and their vibes rubbed off on Team Care Force and I would love to go back.



Care Force Chronicle- Louisville, KY

New Planter Boxes in the Atrium
built by ARAMARK volunteers.

By Georgia Lawrence



Partner: ARAMARK

Volunteers: 150

Service Partner: Louisville Central Community Center

When: October 23-27, 2010

TCF: Steadman Graves, Dan Nemiroff, Aundrea Dean, Georgia Lawrence, Emily Kean, Florence Capinding; Project Manager Susan Bensen


 Our team traveled straight from Kansas City to Louisville on Saturday, October 23 to prepare for this ARAMARK event. This was my first time in Kentucky and I was very excited to explore a new city. After our short flight, we drove to our service site, the Louisville Central Community Center, and waited for the Home Depot delivery scheduled to arrive that afternoon. While waiting at the Center, we had the chance to meet Sam Watkins, valued community member and Executive Director of the LCCC. Sam was incredibly welcoming and immediately made us feel right at home. He explained the many programs the LCCC offers, including early childhood care, youth education, and job readiness training. One of the most unique aspects of the LCCC is their focus on the arts. Almost all of their youth programs centered on art projects, including theater productions, painting, and quilt making. It was great to see so much of their students' art work was proudly displayed around the building.



Dan Nemiroff leads his group of
ARAMARK Volunteers through 
an explanation of their project.

 We arrived on site bright and early Sunday morning to start our prep work. First, we tackled the large pile of lumber that had been delivered, and measured and cut it for the storage shelves, bookcases, and planter boxes that ARAMARK would be building. We also sketched two large wall murals on the maintenance building and ten smaller panel murals that were being painted for the programming space in the LCCC. In addition, Aundrea and Flo prepared for their landscaping project that involved planting flowers and shrubs around the outside of the buildings to beautify the LCCC. We had a great week of prep but, like every project, we always have to be prepared for any challenge. On Tuesday, there were torrential downpours all day, turning the parking lot construction zone into a total mud pit. We also heard tornado warning sirens throughout the day, a first for me and a few of my teammates. Unfazed by the ominous weather, we continued our work as planned and found extra wood palettes and plywood boards to create walkways in the muddy parking lot. 

New Graduation Mural
on Maintence Building.

 Fortunately on Wednesday, the event day, we were greeted with a beautiful, sunshine-filled day. We welcomed the 120 ARAMARK volunteers to the LCCC and got straight into service! I lead a project painting two large murals on the walls of the LCCC's maintenance building. Bill, the Maintenance Director, had been skeptical of the amount of work we would be able to finish by the end of the week. Towards the end of the event day he looked at the new murals on the walls and admitted he was astonished by how much work had been completed and was so happy that the complex had been transformed. He was optimistic that the new paint, murals, and landscaping around the building would prevent future vandalism and attract more visistors to the Center.

Care Force Chronicle-Memphis

 by Florence Capinding


Downtown Memphis.

Partner: ARAMARK

Volunteers: 78

Service Partner: Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association

When: October 10-13, 2010

TCF: Florence Capinding, Dan Nemiroff, Steadman Graves; Project Manager Susan Bensen and Chris Farr

Reserves: Anna Dilernia- City Year Miami Senior Corps Member, Anthony Teague-City Year Miami Senior Corps Member, Lauren Fazah- City Year Headquarters Human Potential Coordinator

On this trip, we had the privilege of working with two reserves from the City Year Miami Team, Anna Dilernia and Anthony Teague, and one reserve from City Year Headquarters, Lauren Fazah. It was very refreshing getting to work with new people and hearing all the great things that are going on at various City Year sites. I think that is one of the things I enjoy most about this job. I have the opportunity to serve with other bright and idealistic individuals from across the United States.  

Lauren Fazah leading ARAMARK
volunteers in constructing picnic tables.

For this week's Care Force Event, we worked with ARAMARK volunteers at the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. MIFA was founded in 1968 to find a solution for poverty and racial divisions in Memphis. Presently, MIFA engages the community to sustain the independence of seniors, transform the lives of families in crisis, and equip teens for success.  Some of their diverse and powerful programs include - delivering over 2,400 hot lunches to seniors on a daily basis, providing emergency funds for families suffering from an unexpected loss of income, and offering mentoring and life skills for teens in the college application process. MIFA serves over 60,000 individuals annually. ARAMARK volunteers worked in the neighborhood garden and recreation areas.

ARAMARK volunteers painted numerous
playground graphics in the recreation area.

One of my most memorable moments during the preparation week before the big event day was moving 600 pieces of lumber three different times and then measuring and cutting it. You would think this would be exhausting and a waste of time, but our positive can-do attitude made the work seem like it was nothing! And because of our preparation, once the event day finally came the ARAMARK volunteers were able to construct 10 picnic tables, 8 double planter benches, 8 raised planter beds, a sandbox, and a brick pathway for the community garden. I think this was the most construction I've seen on a single event day to date! All the items constructed were placed around MIFA’s housing projects, giving the area a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of community. ARAMARK volunteers also painted playground graphics and 30 panel murals which made the recreation area even more beautiful. It was a very transformative day!

 

Memphis BBQ. Yum.

Outside of work, the team and I gorged on Memphis BBQ. One of the restaurants we ate at was Jim Neely’s Interstate BBQ. They are known for their BBQ spaghetti. On top of ordering spaghetti, we also had BBQ salad, BBQ ribs, BBQ sandwiches, and lots of sweet tea. It was delicious! This Memphis trip will definitely be remembered in my mind.

*Thank you Lauren Fazah for the great photos!

Care Force Chronicle - Atlanta, GA

Thursday, October 14th, 2009 – Andrew Duffy

Care Force traveled to Atlanta, GA in October for a powerful week of physical service. In the city where “Every Day Is an Opening Day” our week opened with some damp and chilly weather. Representing Team Care Force were Susan Bensen, Kimberly Ferguson, Ken Wakwe and Andrew Duffy, all under the guidance of Project Manager, Hugh Harlow. Our trip was brightened by the addition of Reserves from City Year Miami; Project Leader Erin McCreary and Corps Member Neil Stanga. We were also luckily graced with presence of City Year Boston’s Admissions Manager, Jasmin Jimenez.

The ARAMARK service site for this project was The Atlanta Union Mission. They were chosen as the site for their long history of working with women and children. Established in 1938 as a refuge for homeless and hungry displaced by the Great Depression, the Mission has grown from a single shelter in downtown Atlanta to six facilities across the city. The sites provide emergency food and shelter, residential recovery programs and transitional housing for the residents of Atlanta. The Howell Mill Road Campus provides shelter for 264 women and children while also offering counseling, life skills training, and work therapy. In addition, the Mission runs a thrift store whose profits directly support the Mission’s program. There were two goals for the week, the first being to enhance the interior and exterior appearances. The second goal was to forge a relationship between the center and the local ARAMARK employees to optimize their ability to prepare clients for re-entry into the work place.



Seven projects were planned to help bring new energy to the center through indoor additions and outdoor enhancements. Though Mother Nature tried her best, the volunteers showed tremendous flexibility through inclement weather and were determined to see their day of service through. Team 1 assembled benches and picnic tables to maximize outdoor seating around the barbeque, as well as moving massive piles of mulch and dirt. Team 2 constructed bookshelves and cubbies to provide storage space in the classrooms used for counseling and group meetings. Team 3 built outdoor planter boxes that will be used as part of an outdoor classroom for the women of the shelter. Working at a feverous pace, Team 4 painted three classrooms a vibrant shade of green, along with Team 2’s bookshelves to create more welcoming spaces. Team 5 cleaned out the Mission’s donation closet and then built new storage for the area. Team 6 painted murals for the walls, and Team 7 gave a face lift to the center’s stairwell railings.


Though dampened shirts weighed them down, the spirit of the ARAMARK volunteers remained lifted. The volunteers worked through the weather and tight working spaces to complete all the projects within the allotted time. It is appropriate that the Atlanta Union Mission’s logo depicts a street lamp aglow with light, for the smiles on the clients faces will create a beacon of hope that will reach the darkest of corners throughout the city.