Surprise Reunion at the United Way Day of Caring
A group of dedicated volunteers spent 6 hours clearing, planting, and cleaning at River Bend Farm.
The United Way of York County hosted its 23rd annual Day of Caring on June 6 with over 40 community members volunteering at River Bend Farm. Groups from Saco Biddeford Savings Institution, Maple Valley Scouts, University of New England Graduate Admissions, Pratt and Whitney, and Nautilus Development blazed and cleared 2 miles of trails, planted 200 American Chestnut Trees for a longitudinal study led by the University of New England, and substantially cleaned our 12,000 square foot 1840's barn! We're grateful for the energetic volunteers and philanthropically-focused businesses that lent helping hands and resulted in a productive day filled with laughs and wonderful memories.
A surprise reunion was a highlight of the day as three former TES students reconnected with the school after 18 years!
“It’s a bit wild to think 10-year-old me (2000 TES student) would be back 18 years later to help the school during this year’s United Way Day of Caring. In a lot of ways, it was a full circle moment. Trail blazing for the day, I couldn’t help but think the last time I was with The Ecology School as a 5th grader learning what trail marks were and why moss mostly grows on only one side of the tree (because of the sun’s angle!)”
The Ecology School student alumni and current Saco Biddeford Savings Bank employees Chad Boucher and John Mondor at the 2018 United Way Day of Caring.