Six Canyons School District schools recently got a helping hand from United Way volunteers.

As part of United Way of Salt Lake’s Day of Caring, 33 projects in Salt Lake and Davis counties were beneficiaries over several weeks, said Roni Scheidler, United Way of Salt Lake volunteer engagement director.

“Post-COVID, we learned it’s better, especially for our schools, to give them flexibility on the date as we work to help with what’s needed,” she said.

East Midvale and Copperview elementaries were on board early in the school year. 

In late August, M.A. Mortenson Construction and Engineering volunteers joined forces with the Utah STEM Action Center at East Midvale to work with preschoolers and kindergartners learning math games. 

At Copperview, CHG Healthcare volunteers reassembled the Cougar Exchange Clothing Closet by helping with the closet’s shelving and sorting clothes for students in need.

In September, Midvalley students listened to O.C. Tanner volunteers read “There’s Only One You” by Kathryn Heling before helping students create a school rock garden. Each class was given a copy of the rhyming picture book.

In early October, a portion of Midvale Elementary’s blacktop was transformed by Jacobsen Construction into pits to play GaGa ball, a variation of dodge ball. The volunteers also refurbished the school’s Little Free Library and restocked student emergency kits.

Next door at Midvale Middle, Dominion Energy volunteers worked alongside students on the upkeep of the campus grounds, updating kits and writing thank-you notes to area emergency personnel. 

A late October grounds beautification project was planned for Sandy Elementary. λ