Despite the wet weather, hundreds of people volunteered Friday for the Capt. Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring.
There were 14 sites in Schuylkill County where people showed their dedication to the community and to honor Jones, who died June 2, 2014, near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in a small arms fight. This was the second year that the event was named in his honor. Sites included Boys Scouts Hawk Mountain Council camp, Schuylkill YMCA and Tamaqua YMCA. The event was hosted by Schuylkill United Way.
The American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter gave out free smoke detectors to people in Pottsville. The detectors were donated by Kiddie and some were provided by the Red Cross. Ten-year smoke detectors with lithium batteries were installed in hallways, while smoke detectors with 9-volt batteries were installed in bedrooms.
Twenty-two volunteers met at the Terry Reilly Community Center in Pottsville before going out to install the life-saving devices for residents who requested them.
“Everybody needs to have them. It’s your first line of defense,” Peter Keitsock, Wayne Township, said.
Patrick Kane, United Way board member, and Jason Kline, Joe Mehalko and Denise Ressler, employees of BB&T Bank, installed eight smoke detectors and changed the batteries in two carbon monoxide detectors at 731 W. Race St., home to eight people including five children.
“That one does not have a battery in it, boss. It’s not going to work without a battery,” Kane told Anthony Patterson.
Patterson, 28, said he removed the batteries because the smoke alarm kept beeping. He was told that is not advisable because the alarms alert you to a fire.
Two of the three smoke detectors in the home did not have batteries in them. Along with installing the smoke detectors, the residents were reminded about the importance of a fire escape plan.
“Before you call 911, everybody gets outside. Make sure the family has an escape plan,” Kane said.
Patterson’s wife, Christina Chen, 29, was almost speechless with the generosity.
“I thought that was so beautiful. It really makes you feel like the community really cares about our little family,” she said.
Patterson said he is also thankful for the smoke detectors.
“I’m just so surprised and appreciative. Everybody’s life matters,” he said.
Sheila Iaconelli, 49, of 720 W. Race St., said she was thankful for the five smoke detectors for the home she rents. She lives with six family members, two of them children.
“I’m not looking forward to having a fire too soon. You never know when it’s going to happen,” she said.
Debbie Bowers, 48, of 290 N. Eighth St., shares a home with two other people, one of them a child. Her home got four smoke detectors Friday, in addition to one that was in the hallway.
“I feel safer, especially with all the fires that’s been going on lately,” she said.
The group installing the detectors didn’t have much luck to start the day. Of the first six houses they went to, only one had someone at home. Information about the other homes was given to the Red Cross so they could make accommodations to have detectors installed at a later date.
Heather Bowman, disaster program specialist with the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, said 100 smoke detectors were installed Friday in 21 homes. That amounts to about 83 people having a better chance at being alerted to a fire, she said.
The organization still has smoke detectors for Pottsville residents who need them. For more information, call 610-375-4342.
Kelly Malone, executive director of Schuylkill United Way, said the rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the volunteers at the Boy Scout camp. She said 80 volunteers helped with gardening and painting, among other tasks. PPL also installed an emergency sound system for the camp.
“People didn’t have to help today,” she said.
By doing so, it demonstrated the caring for the community and “it shows the honor and respect to Capt. Jason B. Jones and what he meant to our community,” Malone said.
For the first time, students participated in the special day by writing letters to members of the armed forces. A care box will be sent with the letters.
Michelle Halabura, director of community relations, said about 200 adults participated Friday, as well as the hundreds of children who wrote letters.
For the sites affected by the rain, activities are scheduled to be held next week.