Heat is indeed the headline for this year’s Volunteer Week. Thursday started off with a high of 80, climbing to the mid-80’s on Friday, to 90 on Saturday, and 92 on Sunday before clouds and an overnight rainstorm “cooled” the temperature on Monday down to mid-80’s again. By Tuesday when the week wrapped up, temperatures finally came down to the upper 70’s, which is the average temperature for this time of year. Humidity was also high all week, compounded by several scattered rain showers keeping the moisture level high. Between the heat and humidity, the heat index over the weekend was 98 Saturday and 100 Sunday.
The weather took its toll on the volunteers. We are grateful that there were no medical emergencies – folks were taking care of themselves by drinking water and taking breaks inside or in the shade. Still, a couple of volunteers that planned on coming canceled because of the forecast. A couple more came but very reluctantly left earlier than planned once they realized the impact the heat was having on them. Some gardeners worked outside in the morning, came in and helped with housekeeping in the afternoon, then went back out to the gardens after supper when it was marginally cooler. Despite the challenges, the volunteers got an amazing amount of work done, thanks in part to a number of volunteers who just dropped in to help.
Outside, the middle-schoolers from Wausau’s NCIS team (Neighborhood Catholics in Service) joined us again for a couple of hours Thursday morning to pick up sticks and small branches in the yard. The Beautification Team weeded the flower gardens, dead-headed flowers and planted flowers donated by Garden Path Greenhouse on the grounds and in the courtyards. Others worked on weeding the veggie garden, trimmed trees and shrubs and mowed grass. There were downed branches and piles of brush in the woods that were moved to the compost pile on the western edge of the back yard. Downed trees were cut into pieces and stacked to dry, and wood cut last year was hauled over to the Solanus Center where it was split and stacked for the winter. Mulch was spread around trees to keep weeds down and make mowing easier.
The badly-worn carpet on the front steps was removed. The meditation benches scattered throughout the property were cleaned, and the area around each bench was also cleared of leaves and twigs. Another area that was cleared of winter debris was the steps on either side of the bowling alley, behind the building. The moss that accumulates on the roof of the bowling alley was also removed, while the bowling alley itself was cleaned and organized, and lumber that had been out in the weather was moved inside the bowling alley.
Inside, there were task lists posted on the doors of every meeting room and unoccupied bedroom. The task lists helped volunteers know what needed to be done to deep clean the rooms as well as what to use for cleaning. Volunteers could tackle one room and complete the list, or move from room to room doing whichever task they were comfortable doing. Tasks included washing woodwork, fans and trash cans; cleaning the blinds; wiping out the window tracks; removing cobwebs; dusting furniture and transom ledges; cleaning windows and mirrors; vacuuming; and washing mattress pads and pillow covers.
All of the section dividers in the bathrooms and shower rooms were wiped down, and shower curtains washed and rehung. Doors and baseboards throughout the halls were also wiped down. All of the fans in the hallways were also disassembled and cleaned. Cobwebs decorating the halls and stairwells were removed. Light fixtures in the hallways and dining room were emptied and cleaned. Linens were folded and rooms restocked for the next guests. Pillows in the pillow room were vacuumed.
Another major project each year during Volunteer Week is carpet cleaning. This year, the bedroom halls upstairs in both sections and the chapel were on the task list. Cleaning the chapel also included washing all of the chairs and polishing the sanctuary furnishes. With the humidity, the carpet did not dry quickly but fans were deployed to assist the drying process.
A number of volunteers also pitched in to care for their fellow volunteers, some in addition to helping out with other tasks. They helped by manning the check-in / help desk to make sure volunteers completed necessary paperwork, tracked who came and left, and answered questions or directed volunteers to someone with answers; carried the hosting phone and walkie-talkies; served as runners or task coordinators; locked and unlocked the doors each day; filled and refilled the water stations; and made that all important first pot of coffee each morning. Then there was kitchen duty. Someone had to be sure that three meals a day were available to help sustain this hardworking crew. They pitched in to make sure that food was prepped, cooked and served, and that the pots, pans and dishes were washed and the kitchen was cleaned up after each meal.
Volunteer Week is not all work, though. There was also morning and evening prayer each day, as well as many opportunities to find the Divine in nature and in those working alongside one another. Mealtime was the best opportunity to meet and get to know other volunteers – forming community in the breaking of bread.
By the end of the work day, the heat and humidity had zapped every bit of energy the volunteers had. Most were too tired to do anything but rest and recover. Saturday was the exception. Some of those who stayed overnight gathered Saturday evening in Joan’s Lounge for a sing-a-long. Nancy A. brought her ukulele and Gayle led the group in song.
For all the volunteers who came and helped out this week despite the heat and humidity – Candy, Nancy A., Alfonzo, Randy, Tammy, Joan, Mary, Peg, Jackie F, Joe F, Patti, Theresa F, Amanda, Carrie, Kathy J, Lori, Steven, John, Judy, Gayle, Tim, Sharon, Susan P, Pam, Terry P, Gordy, Kathy S, Scott, Theresa T, Carol, Sue, Erica, Mary Lou, Nancy K, Amita, Sly, Susan G, Jerome, Danny, Eli, Grayson, Fred, Nathan, Tom and the team from NCIS – and for those who help us week in and week out throughout the year, we say Deo Gratias!