Volunteers pitched in Thursday to help make the David Busby Street Centre spic n’ span.

David Busby staff, volunteers and Eli Lilly employees came together to clean the centre as part of the United Way of Greater Simcoe County’s third annual Day of Caring in Barrie.

Reverend Brian McVitty from Trinity Anglican Church, which houses the centre, said he has never had a team this large come in to do such a thorough clean.

“We are delighted to have them here and help the Busby Centre and they are doing a real clean-up job,” he said. “The place smells great and it’s going to look great once they’re finished. We are very appreciative of all they’re doing.”

Rick Bellerose from Eli Lilly Canada, and one of the volunteers, said the company puts an emphasis on community support.

“The whole company shuts down for the day and encourages all its employees to go out into their communities,” he said. “Find a place to volunteer. Find a place to do some good in their communities. Just spend the day giving back, somehow, someway.”

Louise Stinson, executive director of the Busby centre, said the clean up is to prepare the centre for a fresh coat of paint.

“It would have probably taken us a week to do this on our own but we’ve got participants and students and volunteers and Eli Lilly and it’s just amazing it will all be done in one day,” she said.
Volunteers worked from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. cleaning the centre top to bottom.