Thursday, June 01, 2006

Volunteers Spruce Up CLBH

A group of employees from Catholic Health Initiatives in Erlanger recently spent a sunny Friday outdoors and away from phones, computers, and meetings. 57 volunteers participated in a service project on May 19 at Campbell Lodge Boys' Home.

According to Susan Anthony, Director of Mission Integration and Program Development at the company, “The employees of Catholic Health Initiatives are invited biennially to participate in a voluntary day of community service, which we call Advocacy Day.” She says that Advocacy Day is a reflection of CHI’s commitment to improve the health and well-being of the communities they serve. It is also an opportunity for CHI employees to demonstrate Servant Leadership, by serving those who serve others. “Advocacy Day is a chance to build a sense of team and connectedness among CHI employees who do not work together every day. While CHI sponsors several service projects throughout the year, Advocacy Day is clearly the most popular.”

With a 115-acre campus, there is plenty of work to do at the Home. Some of the volunteers cleaned windows; some weeded, mulched, and planted annuals in the many flower beds; and some volunteers cleaned and then painted the white fence along the entry drive.

Anthony states that the Home was chosen for a variety of reasons: “The staff of CHI resonated with the mission of Campbell Lodge, which is to provide therapeutic guidance for at-risk young men in a nurturing, Christian environment. On the practical side, the Home had enough work to keep nearly 60 people busy for five hours. Our group loves to work outside, and the painting, window washing, planting, mulching, and tree removal were welcome tasks on a beautiful spring day. It was an honor for us to serve the residents and staff of Campbell Lodge in this way.”

Mike Schroth, Executive Director at the Home, is deeply appreciative of the volunteers’ efforts. “The employees of Catholic Health Initiatives were just incredible. Their commitment of time and resources to spruce up our campus with flowers and other landscaping has benefited our agency significantly. The large group of volunteers completed projects in one day that would have taken my staff weeks to complete. We are extremely grateful.”

Catholic Health Initiatives’ office in Erlanger, KY is one of six national offices of CHI, a faith-based national health system, which has 70 health care facilities in 68 urban and rural communities in 19 states.