Neither rain nor sleet kept volunteers making a difference over the weekend.
Saturday was Make a Difference Day, a national event observed at the federal, state and local levels and dedicated to improving communities and neighborhoods.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, more than 200 volunteers met at the I CARE House to help build the I CARE House Playground. Located in the Community Garden, on the corner of Pine and Court Streets, the playground will provide a safe place for children of the Courtside neighborhood to play.
KaBOOM — a national, non-profit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America — trained the I CARE committee in July to build a playground in a day.
Alice Kaiser-Drobney, I Care House director, explained, “Through play, children learn to be fair, pretend and to share. Kids learn about life on a playground.”
Children at the I CARE House helped to influence the design team and developers of the playground by making sculptures of their dream playground with foods such as gumdrops, pretzels and chewing gum.
One 9-year-old used toothpicks to create monkey bars in his design. His older brother used chewing gum and straws to create a climbing wall.
Heather Stoy, House manager, noted, “It’s unbelievable how everyone came together. The kids helped just as much as the adults.”
The I CARE house kids raised $1,000 toward the new playground by asking for donations at the local Wal-Mart and Kmart stores. Other major funding came from The Hoyt Foundation, which donated $34,500, KaBOOM ($5,000) and McKesson ($4,000).
Sponsors were listed on T-shirts that volunteers proudly displayed. Although it was cold on the outside, Pizza Hut donated hot food to keep workers warm on the inside.
Senior Citizens 
