Valero teams up with TLC for United Way of Caring Day

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Lending a helping hand is just one sign that someone cares.

Valero Renewables teamed up with TLC: The Learning Center to make improvements on the playground just across from Central Park in downtown Charles City on Monday.

Through the United Way of North Central Iowa, volunteers from Valero Renewables in Charles City helped put up a mesh fence that will provide more privacy and a windbreak for the playground at TLC. Valero also removed a storage shed on the property in the alley behind the Charles Theatre.

“It’s a guard, so people can’t really see through it,” said Pam Ost, TLC director. “It’s water resistant and it also just kind of encloses and makes it feel a little more comfortable for the kids.”

This was made possible through a grant received by TLC from the United Way of North Central Iowa to celebrate and honor its United Way Day of Caring, which was last Friday, May 3.

Kim Wilson of Valero was one of many volunteers who worked on the projects Monday at TLC. She said this is the third year in a row that Valero has joined forces with TLC to come up with positive projects that benefit all involved.

“United Way matched TLC and Valero because we were in the same location,” said Wilson.

Wilson said Valero painted the offices at Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Charles City about four years ago. Wilson also said that Valero holds a campaign every year where employees pledge money to the United Way of North Central Iowa.

Ost said that in prior years Valero has painted walls as well as cleaned and sanitized cubbies inside the TLC building. The storage shed was taken off the site and will be recycled. Valero will come back later and help with the new storage shed that will arrive in the future.

“Valero has actually given us money to replace the storage shed as well. Which we will do but not right now,” said Ost. “Because it’s wood, the weather has made it more difficult to store and maintain things.”

Ost said the mesh fence will completely encircle the playground at some point. Ost was thankful that Valero took the time to come out and make even the smallest improvements that can add up to big changes in the long run.

“It is a huge deal,” said Ost. “When we have volunteers, it means the world to us.”