A 'Day of Caring' Around Acton

Dozens of volunteers did the dirty work around town on Thursday, Sept. 19. 

It was the Acton-Boxborough United Way's fourth consecutive "Day of Caring," in which the organization enlists more than 50 local volunteers to pitch in and perform tasks needed by charitable organizations around the area. 

"We match business volunteers with the needs of human service agencies," said Rachel Sagan, executive director for the ABUW. "The agencies never have enough resources, so we do whatever they need." 

Like at the Acton Housing Authority, where a giant berm separating the elder housing development from the neighboring property on Windsor Avenue is too large for the staff to weed completely. It's an annual project for the ABUW Day of Caring, and this year a team from Bank of America was up to the task. 

"Having volunteers come and help us with basic landscaping projects is a big help," said Kelley Cronin, executive director at the Acton Housing Authority. "And the residents, they want to be proud of where they live, so they really appreciate it too." 

Seven area branch managers and local Bank of America employees worked on the fall landscaping project at the Acton Housing Authority. 

"Most of us live here, so it's really important," said Supriya Tipnis, vice president and manager of Bank of America's local branch. "It's an opportunity to give back to our community, and it feels good." 

Other ABUW "Day of Caring" sponsors included: 

• Acton Coffee House
• Acton Real Estate
• Boston Bijoux
• CambridgeWear
• Enterprise Bank 
• Gould's
• Koko Fitness
• First Rugs Inc 
• Kitchen Outfitters
• The Happy Chocolatier
• The Local Table
• Powers Gallery

And projects were conducted at locations including: 

• Acton Housing Authority
• Boxborough Council on Aging
• Discovery Museum
• HGRM
• MetroWest Legal Services
• Minuteman ARC
• Minuteman Senior Services
• Mt. Calvary Community Supper