KARE for Kane Sprucing Up Community
By SANDRA RHODES
Kane may be the Black Cherry Capital of the World, but come May 11, it will be all about “sprucing” up the community.
That is when the second KARE for Kane event will take place. This is when volunteers take time out of their day – whether it’s a couple of hours or the entire day – to work on projects throughout the Kane area.
The project is spearheaded by Melanie Clabaugh, executive director the Kane Area Development Center and its offshoot – Kane Area Revitalization Enterprise, and Kathleen Prosperi, an AmeriCorps staff member at the Kane Area High School.
The purpose of the day is two-fold – to gather volunteers for a spring cleanup in the community and to foster community pride amongst all the residents. Anyone is welcome to participate.
“We want to encourage residents, students, businesses and visitors to come participate,” Clabaugh said.
Clabaugh said they picked a Friday so businesses and their employees could participate. This gives the employees a chance to get out of work, but also work as a team and build a dedication to the community.
“To give their time during the work day,” she said. “Give back to the community.”
Prosperi has also enlisted the help of high school students, whether they come out individually or as a team. Some teachers are even including part of this in their curriculum, such as teaching about the history of Kane. They are now trying to come up with ideas of how this can be translated into volunteering at KARE for Kane.
“It’s a neat way to bring everyone together,” Clabaugh said.
Last year, there were 230 volunteers who completed 37 projects. And, as Clabaugh said, even though these numbers were “above and beyond” what they expected, they hope both numbers will grow this year, especially by bringing more students into the equation.
“People saw what happened last year and know what it is,” Prosperi said. “The project gained legitimacy.”
The projects range from landscaping, gardening, helping people remove old appliances from their homes, sweeping sidewalks, to name a few. Clean-up at Glenwood and Evergreen parks is also on the agenda. They would also like to clean up the Kane family burial site in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The program, a well-oiled machine, is set up so volunteers only have to show up and work. T-shirts, snacks and supplies are provided – whether it’s a broom, paint and paintbrush, shovel or garbage bags. People just need to let them know what they are interested in doing and what time they can work.
“They can come for an hour or all day,” Prosperi said, adding the projects runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Kane Community Center at 46 Fraley St. serves as headquarters where volunteers can report to receive their instructions. The project proceeds whether rain or shine.
If people would like to work as a group, they are encouraged to register as a group.
“It’s really encouraging to see what can be done in a small amount of time,” Prosperi said.
In the end, it helps how residents feel about the town as well as how visitors perceive the town when passing through.
“Route 6 is the center of town. It really makes a difference,” Prosperi said.
They have discovered that businesses can help out in a multitude of ways such as letting employees out that day to help. One business was a little more creative.
Segel & Son Inc. out of Warren is setting up bids for scrap iron and metal recycling business. Once that is collected, the scrap metal business will then donate the money back to KARE for Kane.
Building community pride happens in other times of the year, too. At Christmastime, the vacant windows were decorated by volunteers.
“This has allowed us to see an increase in people helping out during the year,” Clabaugh said.
Businesses or individuals interested in donating either time or money can contact the Kane Area Chamber of Commerce at 814-837-6565 or at the KADC website at www.kanepa.com.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...
since 1947
Kane may be the Black Cherry Capital of the World, but come May 11, it will be all about “sprucing” up the community.
That is when the second KARE for Kane event will take place. This is when volunteers take time out of their day – whether it’s a couple of hours or the entire day – to work on projects throughout the Kane area.The project is spearheaded by Melanie Clabaugh, executive director the Kane Area Development Center and its offshoot – Kane Area Revitalization Enterprise, and Kathleen Prosperi, an AmeriCorps staff member at the Kane Area High School.
The purpose of the day is two-fold – to gather volunteers for a spring cleanup in the community and to foster community pride amongst all the residents. Anyone is welcome to participate.
“We want to encourage residents, students, businesses and visitors to come participate,” Clabaugh said.
Clabaugh said they picked a Friday so businesses and their employees could participate. This gives the employees a chance to get out of work, but also work as a team and build a dedication to the community.
“To give their time during the work day,” she said. “Give back to the community.”
Prosperi has also enlisted the help of high school students, whether they come out individually or as a team. Some teachers are even including part of this in their curriculum, such as teaching about the history of Kane. They are now trying to come up with ideas of how this can be translated into volunteering at KARE for Kane.
“It’s a neat way to bring everyone together,” Clabaugh said.
Last year, there were 230 volunteers who completed 37 projects. And, as Clabaugh said, even though these numbers were “above and beyond” what they expected, they hope both numbers will grow this year, especially by bringing more students into the equation.
“People saw what happened last year and know what it is,” Prosperi said. “The project gained legitimacy.”
The projects range from landscaping, gardening, helping people remove old appliances from their homes, sweeping sidewalks, to name a few. Clean-up at Glenwood and Evergreen parks is also on the agenda. They would also like to clean up the Kane family burial site in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
The program, a well-oiled machine, is set up so volunteers only have to show up and work. T-shirts, snacks and supplies are provided – whether it’s a broom, paint and paintbrush, shovel or garbage bags. People just need to let them know what they are interested in doing and what time they can work.
“They can come for an hour or all day,” Prosperi said, adding the projects runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Kane Community Center at 46 Fraley St. serves as headquarters where volunteers can report to receive their instructions. The project proceeds whether rain or shine.
If people would like to work as a group, they are encouraged to register as a group.
“It’s really encouraging to see what can be done in a small amount of time,” Prosperi said.
In the end, it helps how residents feel about the town as well as how visitors perceive the town when passing through.
“Route 6 is the center of town. It really makes a difference,” Prosperi said.
They have discovered that businesses can help out in a multitude of ways such as letting employees out that day to help. One business was a little more creative.
Segel & Son Inc. out of Warren is setting up bids for scrap iron and metal recycling business. Once that is collected, the scrap metal business will then donate the money back to KARE for Kane.
Building community pride happens in other times of the year, too. At Christmastime, the vacant windows were decorated by volunteers.
“This has allowed us to see an increase in people helping out during the year,” Clabaugh said.
Businesses or individuals interested in donating either time or money can contact the Kane Area Chamber of Commerce at 814-837-6565 or at the KADC website at www.kanepa.com.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...since 1947
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