A good weekend to give back

Over 650 volunteers took on service projects across Lane County over the weekend as part of United Way’s 29th annual Days of Caring. Volunteers like Linsey Gerber, left, and Melissa Rogers – employees of Pentagon Federal Credit Union –  supported the Relief Nursery in Springfield by refilling sand boxes in the play areas and planted raspberries and blueberries on the grounds. Twenty-eight nonprofits hosted volunteers for projects such as landscaping at the Arc Park, a car wash party at Pearl Buck Center, Universal Access Trail Construction at Mount Pisgah Arboretum, fruit harvesting at Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, and building sets for the Cottage Theatre. Volunteers gave Lane County nonprofits 2,602 hours of service in total, an estimated value of almost $78,000.