Good deeds help overshadow bad day

Reverse the numbers and 9/11 becomes 11/9.

Reverse the actions, and one of the worst dates in American history became a Day of Good Deeds in the cities of Dunedin and Largo.

The event, scheduled for the first time this year in Largo and the second in Dunedin, was created so local volunteers in the two cities could be a part of the national Make a Difference Day.

On Saturday, hundreds of volunteers young and old turned out to pull weeds and plant gardens, fix a bike or piece of furniture, clean windows and ceiling fans, and just spend time visiting the elderly and disabled. With sunny skies and gentle breezes, the weather seemed eager to cooperate.

"It's a beautiful day for beautiful people doing good deeds," said Eileen Corning of Seminole, one of the volunteer coordinators for Largo.

The Day of Good Deeds generated about 375 deed-doers who showed up at 8 a.m. or earlier to receive their T-shirts and assignments for about 220 people in need.

About 225 volunteers gathered at Edgewater Park in Dunedin, while about 150 met at the Royal Palms at the Palms of Largo Senior Living Facility.

Warren Ankerberg, program coordinator at the Largo Community Center and an event organizer, had said the date -- 11/9 -- symbolized the power of good deeds set against the evil of Sept. 11.

Cub Scout Pack 465 was dispatched to clean up a neighborhood park while others, such as 80-year-old Bill Bell of Largo, were assigned to read a book to someone.

"Volunteering is a big part of my Mormon upbringing," said the retired design engineer who raised six children. "Everyone has something of value to give to others."

Saturday was Eliska Adema's 52nd birthday, and she planned to spend it with a lonely senior.

"I thought this would be the most meaningful way to celebrate my birthday," she said. "It helps undo some of the damage of 9/11."

Terry Moore and her husband, Scott Moore, were preparing to lend a hand with yard and house work to a woman who is raising her grandchildren.

"I grew up in a small community where people knew and helped one another," Terry Moore said. "An event like this gives us an opportunity to help the people we don't know."

At the Palm Lake Village Apartments in Dunedin, about 100 volunteers lined the streets sprucing up the landscaping, windows and walls. They faced fire ants, wasps, and various prickly things; but no one seemed to mind.

Kevin Humphreys, 17, and some of his pals from Palm Harbor University High School's National Honor Society raked leaves and trimmed bushes for the seniors.

"It's a good feeling to get your hands dirty helping others," he said. "We're able-bodied teens with superhuman strength."

Jessica Marcucci and Erica Gerhart, 14-year-olds from Tarpon Springs, washed windows for the elderly residents.

"This makes these people so happy," Jessica said.

"They just like having people to talk to," Erica said.

Leila McKinney, a teacher in the medical magnet program at Palm Harbor University High School, was there with 15 of her students.

"This is great that these teens are exposed to the needs of this older generation. It's so nice to see the two generations interact," McKinney said.

Katie Allard, 16, and her friends from Palm Harbor said they hoped to come back around Christmas to put up holiday lights and decorations.

"We are tossing around ideas to see what else we can do to help," Allard said.

Not all the volunteers were local residents. About 60 current and former college athletes from Boston, New York and Kentucky were attending Eckerd College for training as part of the Athletes in Service to America program.

"Normally the athletes tutor and mentor children and teens," said Eileen Smart, the national program director. "Today they get to work with seniors. They've been coming up and telling me how the people are hugging them and thanking them. This is really special."

Doris Clifford, a 79-year-old resident of Palm Lake Village, called the acts of kindness a godsend as a group of volunteers helped her with some landscaping.

"My back has gone out, and there is no way I could move all these rocks and plant the rose bush," she said.

Resident Judy Briggs, 75, said her spine gives her problems. Her volunteers weeded the small garden in front of her apartment, put down a layer of topsoil and planted three juniper plants.

"I think it's beautiful what these volunteers are doing," she said. "I can't afford to pay people to do this, and they are doing it out of the kindness of their hearts."

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