Volunteers needed to rebuild Elgin playground in a day
From Staff Reports August 30, 2012 8:50PM
United Way is currently in the process of recruting volunteers to help build a brand new playground in Wright Park in Elgin over a single day in September. | Katherine Peters~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 1, 2012 5:50PM
ELGIN — It’s called the United Way Day of Caring. And one way the United Way of Elgin wants to show it cares in a lower-income area of Elgin’s southeast side on Friday, Sept. 28, is to rebuild a playground in one day.
United Way spokeswoman Christina Pearson said the organization is seeking volunteers to build a playground in Wright Avenue Park, a couple blocks south of Villa Street.
“United Way of Elgin is teaming up with Discover Financial Services, the city of Elgin, and KaBOOM! to help bring a safe place to play to hundreds of kids in Elgin,” she said in a press release.
“There aren’t many volunteer projects where you can see the fruits of your labor so clearly,” said United Way President Lynne Bosley. “When you arrive for Day of Caring, there will not be a playground. When you leave hours later, there will be a safe place for kids in the area to play.”
She said the project needs 75 volunteers at least 18 years old who “do not have to be skilled, trained or have any special tools; they just have to be enthusiastic, energetic, team players, and willing to work and have fun.”
Volunteers are needed both for the playground build day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28; and to help prepare the playground site and equipment from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
The project will go forward rain or shine.
Breakfast, lunch, beverages, music and prizes will be provided on the 28th.
Volunteers should preregister online at uwelgin.org/volunteer or by contacting Pearson at 847-741-2259 or cpearson@uwelgin.org.
The new playground will replace the old, deteriorating existing wooden playground equipment at Wright Avenue.
The playground will be funded in large part through a contribution from Discover Financial Services.
KaBOOM! is the national nonprofit dedicated to saving play because children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation.
Bosley said this playground will be the 18th built by KaBOOM! and Discover, and is one of more than 150 playground-builds KaBOOM! will lead across the country in 2012 in an effort to provide a place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
