Volunteers from NIPSCO and Texas Corral of Portage as well as Region residents were on hand to spruce up the garden, prepare meals and lead group activities at St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center in Valparaiso.
Their participation was one of many community service projects conducted around the Region during the United Way’s annual Day of Caring on Aug. 9.
The NIPSCO Gives Back group spent the day washing windows, hosting a tea party with homemade treats and helping lead outdoor activities for guests.
Cliff Scott, managing director, performance management, risk & finance at NIPSCO, said the company encourages volunteer engagement by offering employees four paid hours a year to be out in the communities.
“It’s a team-building activity. NIPSCO wants us to be involved in the communities where we work and live,” Scott said. “We also have Dollars for Do’ers, which provides a contribution to the organization based on the number of hours that we served.”
The event celebrated the volunteer spirit with a luncheon hosted by the Texas Corral of Portage and Bingo games led by groups from Grace Gathering and Chesterton United Methodist Center.
St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center offers a structured and safe environment for adults who are facing Alzheimer’s or dementia or who are not able to remain at home alone.
The United Way’s annual Day of Caring in Northwest Indiana this year drew 570 volunteers who completed 68 projects for community groups around Northwest Indiana.