David Coffett, left, from the Dallas Bay Ace Hardware store, removes loose branches while Randy Finchum, a territory manager for Mid-Atlantic STIHL, middle, cuts a downed tree into manageable pieces as volunteers work to clean up a Boys and Girls club camp that was damaged during the April 27 storms.Dozens of trees downed by an April 27 tornado covered the Apison area Boys and Girls Club campground, making it impossible for summer camp to operate this year.
But on Thursday more than 25 Ace Hardware volunteers worked on the grounds so the camp will go on next year.
“We’re working to get this camp safe so kids can get back out here and enjoy,” said John Rutter, Ace marketing manager.
Rutter was among 300 volunteers who participated in United Way’s 22nd annual Day of Caring on Thursday. The volunteers helped 24 nonprofit agencies with projects intended to make Chattanooga a better community, United Way spokesman Wayne Collins said.
“If you’re helping one individual, that’s great,” said Collins. “It’s about advancing the common good for everybody. We believe with everybody working together, we can make a big difference.”
Volunteers from insurer Cigna built toys and swings for animal habitats at the Chattanooga Zoo. First Tennessee Bank representatives painted East Lake Elementary School and McKee Foods staffers worked at a Habitat for Humanity construction site.
“Communities grow by the acts of volunteers,” said Windy Brooks, United Way’s volunteer manager.
Brooks said volunteers worked in remembrance of families who lost loved ones during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Wearing a red T-shirt, face guard and gloves, Soddy-Daisy resident David Coffelt pressed a chain saw near the bottom of a downed tree at the Apison camp site. Ace Hardware nursery managers Jennifer Richardson and Kelly Rollins dragged tree limbs into a pile.
Fallen trees and storm debris kept 500 to 600 city children from enjoying the walking trails, green fields and streams that decorate the rural Apison camp.
“The ultimate goal for summer 2012 is to have our camp back open so kids can come out and enjoy the outdoors,” said Debbie Gray, vice president of the Boys and Girls Club of Chattanooga.
Wood chips created a small hill on the east side of the camp where Bill Seavey and his crew from Marion Environmental Services fed tree branches into a chipper. They then put the mulch and wood chips on walking trails.
“We do volunteer work for the Boys and Girls Club throughout the year,” said Seavey. “This is something that we want to do, something we could help out with.”