KELSEYVILLE — Simultaneously eating pizza and drilling in screws, by 2 p.m., Eduardo Alatorre, 17, had not taken a break since he started working at 9 a.m.
He was one of the more than 30 volunteers Saturday at the Lake Family Resource Center”s Freedom House, a domestic violence shelter in Kelseyville, for United Way”s annual Day of Caring. While other volunteers mused at his dedication, they were all there to be a helping hand.
“I just like to help,” said Alatorre. “It makes me feel good to help the community.”
He is part of Kelseyville High School”s Interact Club, one of several organizations that took part in the day”s event.
The volunteers worked together to build two playgrounds and a community garden for the shelter, Jenny Chamberlain, United Way Day of Caring coordinator, said.
“It”s very encouraging to see how many people came out on a Saturday, it”s very inspiring to me,” she said.
The playground is for the children of the women who reside in the shelter, and anyone is welcome to plant in the garden.
The day started off with a morning rally led by county supervisor Rob Brown.
After that, the volunteers split up to plant the garden and build the playgrounds.
“We”ve been talking about putting in a garden here for well over a year. It”s nice we are finally doing and on such a nice day,” Hunger Task Force volunteer Lorrie Gray said.
The Lake County Hunger Task Force brought seeds, all donated by group members, and planted a winter crop, which included lettuce, spinach and arugulas, she said.
CNS Water Solutions also donated 10 yards of compost. “It”s going to make all the difference in this garden. Without all these donations, it would still just be a bunch of weeds,” Gray said.
Other donations came from Umpqua Bank and the Lake County Department of Social Services.
The Lakeport and Kelseyville Rotary clubs, as well as the Corvettes of Lake County Club, all made donations to build the younger kids” playground. Sutter Lakeside Hospital also donated a slide, swing set and merry-go-round for the older kids” playground.
Gloria Flaherty, Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director, who also took part in the event, said it was incredible and, “it”s nice that the kids will finally have a place to play.”
Once the big kids” playground was almost completed, Flaherty and Chamberlain took a step back to look at the work the volunteers had done that day.
“We did a lot today, Gloria, I didn”t think we”d be able to do this much,” Chamberlain said.
As for Alatorre and his fellow Interact club members, Laurie Loumeha, Kelseyville High School teacher and the club”s advisor, said the students would be staying extra to help out as much as they could.
Erica Cuevas, volunteer and Sonoma State University student, said she came out because, “the community gives us so much; I wanted to give something in return to build a stronger community.”
