MARYSVILLE Wal-Marts National Day of Caring hit home for the third year in a row, putting some elbow grease into a local social service provider.
Katies Adult Day Care provides a safe place for people with disabilities, including patients with maladies like Alzheimers Disease.
When their caregivers need to have a safe place for their loved ones, they call Katie DeVore. She started the business years ago after her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimers and now offers respite care for elderly people with disabilities. Many stay just for a few hours while their caregivers run errands, some stay overnight when they need to.
But all can find a safe and caring environment, so thats why workers from the local Tulalip Wal-Mart stopped by with shovels and lots of energy to renovate the entryway to Katies Marysville center.
Many of her new patients have severe mobility restrictions and need to be wheeled in and out of the home. There are several ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, but the workers decided to make things even easier by building a loading dock where a handicapped-accessible van can pull up to.
It took a lot of work, but workers led by manager Mary Jane Hayes moved a mountain of dirt and soil and rearranged the front yard to make room for the new loading slip during the Sept. 28 work session.
Its gonna solve a whole lot of problems for them, Hayes said as she worked in a pile of dirt up to her knees.
The store donated bulbs and seeds for a new garden in the back of the home. The residents there will each have a plot and they will plant and tend their spread. At harvest time the produce will be sold in local farmers markets.
The National Day of Caring is a partnership with the Snohomish County United Way. Each year a Wal-Mart store picks a local non-profit agency to receive some help, in the form of work and materials.
Were doing the yard work for her, Hayes explained. Its something we do every September.
The work is a huge boost for DeVore, as her service shifts to help just about any adult with disabilities. Working with community partners DeVore will be able to offer care and work-training opportunities for people ages 21 and up. In the past DeVores home covered mostly senior citizens, but now that will change. Some will have additional physical problems and the new work will help a lot.
It means everything, DeVore said as she fed her volunteers a robust lunch. It makes me feel Im part of their family and part of the community. Wal-Mart has been so gracious, I have a lot of respect for them.