The rain didn’t stop the parade for Domtar Personal Care’s service day.
The provider of fiber-based products, such as specialty paper and absorbent hygiene, with corporate offices in Canada and Fort Mill, S.C., paid about 50 employees from its Delaware office, 2332 U.S. Route 42, to help rejuvenate the Jack Florance Pool building at Mingo Park Monday morning. This was the second project Domtar’s local office carried out, with the first one done at Oak Grove Cemetery in 2015.
More employees were planned during the six-week planning process, but “because of the rain we cut back on the number [of volunteers],” said Nick Eichensehr, senior property director of the Delaware Community Center YMCA, which manages the Jack Florance Pool along with the city’s recreation services.
Due to budget constraints, the YMCA devotes 16 hours of work per week at the building built in 1976, he said. Domtar’s contribution provides more than nine weeks of work for a full-time staff member. It would have been more than four months’ worth if the rain didn’t happen, Eichensehr added.
Domtar employees cleaned and refinished the floors, repainted the walls and replaced original ceiling tiles.
Domtar “just wanted to give back to the community,” said Devon Revels, the company’s human resources business partner. The Delaware office opened in 2007 and has about 200 employees.
“It’s a big benefit for us,” said Stacy Davenport, the city’s parks superintendent. He said the work done Monday would have been required before it can open the pool for the Memorial Day weekend.
Additionally, Addecco, Jet’s Pizza, Kroger and Mingo Park’s Morning Walkers donated refreshments for Domtar staff.