Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Sometimes it is the little things that count.

Small jobs such as weeding a garden bed or replacing a light bulb can have a big impact on the lives of senior citizens and the operations of local human-service organizations.

Providing the manpower for some of those small jobs was the focus of Wednesday's eighth annual Day of Caring, when more than 100 volunteers came out to complete a variety of projects across the county.

Jeanne Kempers is one of several Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp. employees who spent the morning pulling weeds and trimming plants and trees in the Yampa River Botanic Park.

"The sun came out, and it was great," said Kempers, who moved to Steamboat from Boulder four years ago.

Kempers said Steamboat's community mindset is one of the city's best characteristics.

"I like the whole idea where everyone pitches in and helps out," she said. "It's pretty unique. It was a great experience."

Some of the projects performed by volunteers included yard work at one of Advocates Against Battering and Abuse's safe houses, cleanup work at the Steamboat Springs Animal Shelter, Tread of Pioneers museum, South Routt Community Center and Discovery Learning Center, and playground maintenance at Young Tracks Preschool and Childcare center.

The Day of Caring, hosted annually by Routt County United Way, generally focuses volunteer work on nonprofit agencies and groups that need assistance. Executive director Millie Beall said helping senior citizens who no longer can perform fairly simple maintenance tasks is also a focus.

Some volunteers visited the homes and apartments of senior citizens to do things such as change light bulbs and clean hard-to-get areas like behind refrigerators.

Sean McConville, who will begin trail work for the U.S. Forest Service next week, spent Wednesday morning helping LIFT-UP of Routt County move to its new location. The work included sorting clothes and moving shelves, storage racks and files.

"I didn't have anything to do today so I thought I might as well help out and do something constructive," McConville said. "It worked out well. I think they were real happy with what we were able to do for them."

Some local businesses also lent their support to Day of Caring by paying employees who took the morning off to pitch in on some of the day's chores and projects.

"How sweet is that?" Beall said.

The Ski Town Lions Club provided lunch for all the volunteers, which included many students from across the county.

-- To reach Brent Boyer call 871-4234

or e-mail bboyer@steamboatpilot.com