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Friday, September 09, 2005 Page: 1A
For the second year in a row, many Times Leader readers are paying tribute
to the victims of 2001’s terror attack by volunteering their time and donating
material goods.
One woman pledged to deliver about 1,000 newer books to the Plymouth Public
Library, said library director Jonah Aben. A high school student contacted the
McGlynn Learning Center, saying he will provide music programs for children
who live in Wilkes-Barre’s Boulevard Townhomes. And a few donors divvied out
office supplies to Help Line, an information and referral service that has
been supporting residents of Luzerne and Wyoming counties since 1972.
“(This week’s newspaper article) kind of made people aware that we’re still
out there,” said Tom Foley, director of Help Line.
Five nonprofit programs – including the area’s Habitat for Humanity
affiliate and the Luzerne Volunteer Fire Department – were spotlighted earlier
this week through a series of Times Leader articles, encouraging area
residents to lend help to community-enhancing groups.
Each program director was asked to provide a wish list of 10 “everyday
items” and an 11th “pie-in-the-sky item.” Readers who owned those items, or
wanted to buy them, were asked to contact the group directly, learn the
specifics and then deliver their donations on or before Sunday – the fourth
anniversary of the Sept. 11th jetliner hijackings.
In some cases, readers didn’t simply drop off desired items, they agreed to
roll up their sleeves. “We’ve been getting a wonderful response,” said Lillian
Cohen, executive director of Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity. “I’ve heard
from people who want to volunteer generally and people with specific skills,
like painters.”
Nationally, a campaign called One Day’s Pay encourages Americans to
commemorate the tragedy each year by performing kind acts. Contribute cash to
a worthy cause, for example. Or help an elderly neighbor with house chores. Or
donate blood.
An outpouring of goodwill seems doubly significant this year, given the
disaster in the Gulf Coast. By donating money, residents of the Wyoming Valley
region can help the hurricane victims; by giving their time and modest
contributions, they also can strengthen the safety net and improve people’s
lives right here in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Organizers of the One Day’s Pay campaign emphasize that compassionate acts
and good deeds are valued all year long. So if you can’t participate by
Sunday, or you want to give more than a single day’s service, please get
involved at other times.
Here’s how.
* Contact the United Way of Wyoming Valley’s Volunteer Action Center in
Wilkes-Barre to be paired with an area nonprofit group that needs helping
hands. On weekdays, call Maureen Jordan at 829-6711, ext. 236.
* Assist the Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, which
collects blood and provides many disaster-related services. Call 823-7161.
* Build homes with Habitat for Humanity, whose volunteer laborers are
working on a Wilkes-Barre residence. Call 820-8002.
* For more information, computer users can visit the One Day’s Pay Web
site, at www.onedayspay.org.
If you’ve been meaning to call one of the five nonprofit programs featured
earlier this week in the Times Leader, here are the numbers.
* Help Line. 829-1341.
* Luzerne Volunteer Fire Department. 287-7006.
* McGlynn Learning Center. 824-8891.
* Plymouth Public Library. 779-4775.
* Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity. 820-8002.