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The staff and clients at STAR, Inc. got their wish today when 42 volunteers planted a vegetable garden on the grounds of the non-profit organization. The effort was part of XL Capitals day of community service. David Shockley, neighborhood improvement coordinator for the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, coordinated the effort with Bill Casale, director of operations for STAR, a community program that helps meet the needs of those with disabilities.
Corporations are still giving, said Shockley. Though companies may be trimming cash contributions, Shockley said they continue to volunteer. Representatives from XL Capital, which is located in Stamford, had approached the Redevelopment Authority seeking a volunteer opportunity for its employees, he said.
I knew of STARs desire to have a vegetable garden, Shockley said, making it easy to coordinate the project. A team of 42 XL employees spent Thursday constructing the new vegetable garden, pruning trees, mulching flower beds and planting annuals as part of the companys Global Day of Giving. Joe Wilson, a member of XLs IT department, dusted top soil from his hands as he explained he was one of 3,000 company employees around the world who were spending the day giving back to their communities.
Without the volunteer labor, we just couldnt have done this, said Casale. Local donors contributed the plants. STAR clients will weed the garden and harvest the vegetables. This used to be strictly a work program, said Casale, referring to STAR. But with so little work available, we supplement it with activities.
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