East Palestine Day of Giving draws 400

By Virginia Ross

Families, youth groups and others were among the community volunteers.

EAST PALESTINE — It’s a good thing that Melody Evans isn’t afraid of heights — and that she doesn’t mind the scent of wet paint.

On Saturday, during the Dog Days annual Day of Giving, Evans climbed a ladder and applied as much silver paint as she could to the top of the fence that surrounds the tennis courts at East Palestine City Park.

“It takes a lot of patience,” she said. “You have to apply it and reapply it again and again. But it will look a lot better when it’s done.”

Evans, whose sister-in-law Sandy Wales serves on the city park board, has been volunteering on various community projects at least 13 years. In the mid-1990s she was one of the 500 volunteers that turned out daily for nearly a week to help construct the city park’s playground equipment.

“I like to help out,” Evans said. “It’s become a family affair, brothers, nieces, nephews, the whole crew. But we enjoy it.”

Likewise, Lynn Guy and several of her children turned out Saturday to donate their time and energy to the community-wide event.

“It’s something we can do together and a way to help our town,” Guy said. “It’s a way to give something to the community.”

Dog Days is designated as an annual day established for East Palestine area residents to work together toward a common goal. Last year more than 350 volunteers supported the effort and completed several projects throughout the city including painting, weeding and mulching, cleanup and landscaping.

Joann Knight, chairperson of the Dog Days steering committee, said this year’s event easily attracted at least 400 volunteer workers. Projects were completed downtown, at the city school buildings and throughout the remainder of the city. Hundreds of city residents were on the job by 8 a.m. and worked throughout the day, taking short breaks for snacks or to attend the volunteer luncheon at the park’s community center.

Families, church groups and civic organizations worked side by side, with some volunteers taking on several different chores throughout the day.

“It’s amazing, wonderful but amazing, to see this much support and involvement in one community,’ Knight said. “East Palestine is definitely a caring community. There are great people here, and we appreciate everything they’ve done.”

Knight said Dog Days has a dual meaning. Dog stands for Day of Giving and the East Palestine City School District’s mascot is a bulldog. “It seemed appropriate,” she said. “It represents who we are and what we’re trying to do.”

Knight said the annual Day of Caring is the one event the Dog Days committee sponsors each year. She noted the Dog Days steering committee doesn’t ask for money but accepts monetary donations to help supply the volunteers with food and refreshments during lunch and throughout the day. Several area businesses donated food, drinks and supplies, she said.

“We depend on the goodness of our businesses and the work of our volunteers,” Knight said. “Even a little becomes a lot when you have enough people pitching in. A little from here and a little from there goes a long way. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Every bit helps.”

Sue Dunlap started her day working on the tennis court fence. By early afternoon she was involved in a project she’d been wanting to complete for weeks — weeding the flower beds near the playground. Dunlap said she’s wanted to chip in during past Dog Days efforts, but something always came up to keep her from it.

“This year I just made up my mind and I committed myself to volunteering,” she said. “I bring my 4-year-old son, Brian, to the playground a couple of times a week and this area is the first thing we see. I want it to look nice. It’s nice to know I did something to help make it nice and keep it that way. It’s good to know you’re part of something like this.”