CLEARFIELD – Every year for the last eight or so years, employees from the Clearfield Wal-Mart Supercenter have supported the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging’s Anne S. Thacik Charity Auction by volunteering their time to assist the agency on the night of the auction. They handle all kinds of tasks, from re-stocking the dessert tables to moving the items to the auctioneer and then to the successful bidders. Sometimes, they even end up bidding on items themselves.
The Wal-Mart Foundation encourages their employees to become involved in their communities in this way and to submit a record of their activities to the corporation for possible funding awards. Linda Bowman, team leader for the Clearfield Crew, said she also had to keep track of the hours the employees donated and submit these with their project report. In 2008, employees donated 25 hours. This effort qualified them for a $1000 grant award – money which is then to be donated to the agency the employees were working with.
“These employees throw themselves into our auction with enthusiasm,” commented Rikki Ross, Marketing & Events coordinator at the agency. “It is obvious that they truly enjoy being with us, and from our point of view, they have become a tradition at our auction that we hope will continue for years to come.”
Plans will soon be under way for the 2009 auction event. Ross indicated this group of Wal-Mart Supercenter employees, which has grown to more than a dozen participants, has already committed to help in even more ways than they have in the past.
For more information about the Anne S. Thacik Charity Auction, contact Rikki Ross at 765-2696. Programs and services of the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Mature Resources Foundation, and local and client contributions.