SIDNEY — For Sarah Barr, the United Way day of action has provided some welcome assistance.
Barr is the executive director of Raise the Roof for the Arts, which operates in the Historic Sidney Theatre and is one of this year’s beneficiaries of United Way Day.
The day of action is a celebrated annually worldwide by volunteers who help their communities, supported by companies in the area. This is the first year Shelby County United Way has aligned with the national initiative, with 16 local projects, including:
• Painting the Salvation Army kitchen, by POWER Women’s Initiative
• Pulling honeysuckle at Tawawa Park, by Choice One Engineering
• Building a play set for New Choices Inc., by Lochards Inc.
• Painting shelters and surrounding equipment at Roadside Park, by Wilson Health
• Painting shelter house and picnic table at Sherman Park, by U.S. Bank
• Painting shelters and surrounding equipment at Riverbend park, by Peerless Food Equipment.
Other participating companies were Emerson Climate Technologies, Honda, Cargill, Mutual Federal Savings Bank, Edgewell (formerly Energizer Playtex), City of Sidney and Shreves Construction.
“We are fortunate and blessed to have 14 companies interested in making an impact,” said Scott Barr, executive director of the Shelby County United Way. “The United Way board is thrilled with the inaugural day of action, and we look forward to the future.”
At the Historic Sidney Theatre, Emerson Climate Technologies employees with Westerheide Construction, worked on two large dressing rooms. The project included new drywall, painting the walls and resealing the floor, changing the section of the 100-year-old building dramatically from what Barr called “dungeon-like” into usable space.
“We can’t thank them enough,” she said. “Their support has been show-stopping — no pun intended — and they encompass everything we’re trying to be. They come in excited about the community, excited about the project and full speed ahead.”
A production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” is currently in rehearsal, and Barr is excited to see the children’s reactions to the new space.
“I’m sure that when those little kids get down there, and get to see their new area, their faces will light up,” she said.