A Caring Connecting Community
May 21, 2008 | Community News | Archive 2008
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Beyond roads and sidewalks, beyond schools and hospitals, the roots of a community are its people-connected, interdependent, united.
Students from Elmwood School learn job skills, meet new friends and make a lasting impression on their community and in their own lives by completing neighbourhood improvement projects.
In fact, she's become a bit of an expert at reaching out and creating opportunities for area residents, service groups and other organizations to connect to each other, the neighbourhood, and beyond.
With only a handful of staff spread over three locations, she's let no resource go untapped in that pursuit, especially United Way's Day of Caring program.
"Day of Caring brings together companies, organizations or groups with United Way agency partners to complete much-needed projects," says Barb Brown, United Way’s Day of Caring program manager.
In the last three months alone, Zacharias has partnered with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Pepsi Bottling Group, Ernst & Young and Westgate Mennonite Collegiate.
Recently, students and teachers from Elmwood High School helped ECRC staff complete several projects, most notably a community inspired mural-a tree populated with leaves bearing residents' names.
Zacharias believes a new tradition will take root as a result, giving everyone in the area a sense of ownership and connectedness.
Co-developed by ECRC and the Parent-Child Coalition, students also delivered 500 parent resource and pre-school literacy bags, a response to some disappointing numbers in a provincial government kindergarten readiness assessment.
Beyond person power, Zacharias says a Day of Caring raises community awareness and forms new relationships.
Kasia Buchman, career advisor at Elmwood School, helped organize the students. She couldn't agree more.
“Not only do students gain a better understanding of their community, some enjoy working with"the agencies so much that they become volunteers. Others have even received job offers."
The health of our neighbourhoods and the well-being of individuals have a major impact on quality of life. Thank you to all the partners and friends of the Day of Caring program. By supporting United Way of Winnipeg, you're working to create strong communities where everyone can lead a full and happy life.
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