April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
VOLUNTEER WORK
Builders make kitchen for Sunnyside Center
Catholic Charities' Sunnyside Child Development Center in Troy is the group's latest project: The center, which serves around 300 children through its day care, after-school care and summer activities programs, is getting a new kitchen facility, thanks to numerous volunteers and donors.
Jack Seydler of Patriot Construction in Amsterdam told The Evangelist he enjoys volunteering and doesn't view it as losing time from his usual work.
"We can take care of ourselves, but the older guys and the little ones need help," he said, referring to Sunnyside's toddlers and preschoolers.
The volunteer work is saving Catholic Charities approximately $100,000. The Review Foundation, the Seymour Fox Foundation, the Golub Foundation, Nigro Companies and Habitat for Humanity donated funds and building materials for the project.
In the past, CRBRA members volunteered their services to Catholic Charities by completing a roofing project in Grafton and building three new cabins at Camp Scully in Wynantskill, a summer camp for children from low-income families.
Floors to doors
The Sunnyside kitchen, currently in a separate building from the day care, will be relocated to the center's main building, which will also get new bathroom facilities for the children. The kitchen will be used to prepare meals and snacks for the low-income children who participate in the programs.
In addition to general demolition and building labor, volunteers will be installing new windows and doors, plumbing fixtures, kitchen cabinets and floors.
The volunteers are "the backbone of the association," said Deedee Enides, CRBA's director of membership. "They are willing to give their time and materials" for the project.
Although diocesan Catholic Charities CEO Vincent Colonno noted that the builders could be out making a profit on their own projects, the volunteers don't see it that way.
"You just have to adjust" the work schedule, said Dett Otterbeck of Otterbeck Builders in Castleton. "It's for a good cause. It's not like we're playing hooky."
Mr. Otterbeck has volunteered for Catholic Charities for three years. He contributes a lot of the planning and preliminary work to the projects, though he claims it isn't that much.
Humble helpers
"Dett is essentially our general contractor. He would say it's not true, but it is," countered Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CSJ, director of community partnership for Catholic Charities.
For Paul Pipino of Pipino Builders in Clifton Park, volunteering is just like "another day in the office." This is Mr. Pipino's second time working on a Catholic Charities project.
"A belief of mine is if every professional took one day a year [to donate their services], the world would be a better place," said Mr. Pipino.
"The support has been long-standing," said Mr. Colonno. "These people have done this time and time again." "It means the world," noted Sister Betsy. "They're willing to step aside [from their other work] and transform the space."
"We've been blessed with what we have, so now we can give back," Mr. Seydler told The Evangelist.[[In-content Ad]]
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