Three Scholastic employees took over the kitchen at the Special Learning Center for a few hours Thursday afternoon.
The women, each of whom has worked at Scholastic for more than three decades, ribbed each other as they mixed dough and baked about 18 dozen cookies.
Lori Massman, Maria Stockman and Cindy Hall were participating in the annual United Way Days of Caring, which occurred Thursday and continues today.
“Some of the cookies will be sent home with the kids (at the center) and some will be for the Tom Henke Golf Tournament,” Massman said.
The annual tournament is one of the largest fundraisers conducted for the center, which serves more than 800 children through therapy programs, special-education classes, childcare and other services.
Stockman and Hall laughed when Massman scoffed at the notion sugar is not a dry ingredient for cookies. Sugar goes in with the butter, they told her.
“You need to make up your mind what is dry and what is not dry,” Massman replied.
Typically, about 40 Scholastic employees participate in Days of Caring, which the company has supported since the program started, she said. It didn’t quite reach that level of participation this year. Despite being a little shy of the number of volunteers it has offered in the past, the company helped a number of United Way Agencies. Its employees spread out in the community to help on projects both days.
Days of Caring provides volunteers from loyal, supportive businesses some short-term, project-focused service opportunities at United Way of Central Missouri’s 28 partner agencies, according to information the United Way provided.
In all, more than 250 people volunteered for the opportunities to help the agencies.
The United Way understands the importance of volunteerism in the community, and sees the two-day effort as a critical component of its work, according to United Way President Ann Bax. It connects caring individuals with organizations who rely and thrive with the help of selfless people giving their time to help others. Volunteering strengthens communities and gives people opportunities to change lives, often their own, she said in a news release.
Volunteers on Thursday built garden beds for the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City, worked alongside disabled employees at Capitol Projects, helped distribute food at the Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, planted mums at Compass Health Network, cleaned at Little Explorers Discovery Center and contributed in many, many other ways.
Central Bank and Jefferson Bank employees raked leaves, pulled weeds, spread mulch and cleaned windows at Rape and Abuse Crisis Service (RACS) on Thursday.
“Guys, this looks amazing,” Victoria McBride, RACS director of outreach and advocacy, told the volunteers.
She said some of the volunteers helped her compile domestic violence and sexual assault packets, which are distributed among survivors who contact RACS.
Days of Caring is timed to occur in conjunction with the annual community fundraising campaign. It allows businesses’ employees to roll up their sleeves and help the nonprofit agencies. Employees get to see up-close and — hopefully — understand the important work each of the agencies is doing in our community.
“Whether it’s planting a garden, reading to children, painting a room or working alongside individuals with disabilities, there’s a volunteer opportunity that’s right for everyone,” Bax said.
People seeking volunteer opportunities may do so year-round by clicking on the United Way volunteer platform at https://unitedwaycemo. galaxydigital.com. The website, which launched last year, is a one-stop shop for all things volunteering in the United Way of Central Missouri’s nine-county service area — serving Cole, Camden, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Phelps and southern Callaway counties.