Hundreds of Savannah River Site (SRS) employees rolled up their sleeves and got to work across Aiken County during United Way of Aiken’s 29th annual Day of Caring, a key initiative of Project VISION (Volunteers in Service in Our Neighborhoods).
On March 21, nearly 300 volunteers representing Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), Savannah River Mission Completion, Battelle Savannah River Alliance, and Savannah River National Laboratory participated in service projects at 20 different locations.
Of those, 140 volunteers came from SRNS, according to a press release from SRS.
Fifteen of the worksites were nonprofit agencies partnered with the United Way of Aiken County, while five were residential homes in need of repairs or accessibility improvements, such as wheelchair ramps and gutter repairs.
Volunteers traveled to neighborhoods across Monetta, Wagener, Trenton, Beech Island and North Augusta to carry out their tasks.
Projects included everything from landscaping and pressure washing to painting, moving agencies to new locations and general beautification.
These efforts not only refreshed facilities but also allowed agencies to redirect their time and resources toward serving their missions, according to a SRS press release.
Among the agencies served were the Girl Scouts of South Carolina: Mountains to Midlands, ACTS of Aiken and Graniteville, North Augusta YMCA, the Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County, Tri-Development Center, Helping Hands and The Salvation Army.
One of the highlights was a 41-foot wheelchair ramp built by Environmental Operations Management volunteers.
Executive Vice President and EM Chief Operations Officer, Mike Swain, praised the initiative and the multiple involved volunteers.
“Project VISION is such a great program to participate in because not only do volunteers help their community, they also build camaraderie and strong team bonds,” Swain said.
Executive Vice President of NNSA Missions, Jim Dawkins, visited several sites including Helping Hands and the local Girl Scout Hut, where IT team members led by Tim Arnold and Tammy Pruitt were staining ramps, installing exterior lights and planting flowers.
“We’re very blessed at the Site and we should help our community out,” said Arnold. “Working for SRNS is great—we have so many outreach opportunities.”
Director of Project VISION, Lizzie Abshire, noted a rise in new leadership this year.
“The Day of Caring is only possible through support from employees at SRS,” she said. “These employees recognize the value of extending a helping hand to agencies and neighbors in need.”
Since 1996, Project VISION has provided vital upkeep for United Way partner facilities throughout Aiken County. The program continues to grow, inspiring both new and veteran volunteers to make a lasting impact.
To learn more or get involved, visit uwaiken.org/project-vision.
