2024 marks the 10^th anniversary our Day of Caring was renamed in honor of Captain Jason B. Jones. Captain Jones grew up in Orwigsburg and was a 2003 graduate of Blue Mountain High School.

He went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy with a degree in nuclear engineering. After graduating from West Point, Captain Jones chose to branch into the Infantry Division with the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  His first deployment was to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as a Platoon Leader for 2^nd Battalion of Charlie Company Parachute Infantry Regiment. After completing a one-year deployment he returned to Fort Bragg where he served as Company Executive Officer and Battalion Air Operations Officer.  In 2011 Captain Jones fulfilled a life-long dream when he was selected to participate in the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course in May 2013 and was assigned as team leader of a 12-man team in 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group.

Captain Jones deployed to Afghanistan in April 2014 as the commander of a 12-man Special Forces A-Team with the Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets. Capt. Jones died in Afghanistan June 2, 2014 at the age of 29. Capt. Jones’ awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He was also awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.

Capt. Jones’ parents, Joseph H. Jones, Jr and Suzy Jones, volunteered today at the Boy Scout Hawk Mountain Camp as they do each year.

Quotes from the day:

“Undoubtedly we will save a life today. There is no question about it.” – Steve Leauber, Senior Disaster Program Manager with the American Red Cross at their Sound the Alarm event with Girardville’s Rangers Hose Company.  

“It’s great to give back to the nonprofits that provide so many resources to our community.” Linda Decker, Fulton Bank, served at the SARCC offices in Pottsville.

A few highlights:

American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter & Rangers Hose Company, Girardville

Directed and lead by the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter & Rangers Hose Company, 33 volunteers from Geisinger/St. Luke’s Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital Miners Campus, UGI, Schuylkill Community Action, the Office of U.S. Senator John Fetterman, and Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill worked together to install 113 free smoke alarms to residents of Girardville and Ashland today. 75 local residents were served and 42 homes were made safer due to their efforts.

“Undoubtedly we will save a life today. There is no question about it,” stated Steve Leauber, Senior Disaster Program Manager with the American Red Cross. This event, Sound the Alarm, is a national event run by the American Red Cross in conjunction with community partners.

“Working smoke alarms save lives. Help us help you stay safe and get out alive.” These were the words of Frank Zangari, Girardville Fire Chief during his address to the volunteers.

Some residents scheduled their free smoke alarms, other accepted the offer of home fire safety education and smoke alarms as volunteers went door-to-door. If you need a smoke alarm, please call 484-403-4737 or visit http://soundthealarm.org/greaterpa.

Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation

Nearly 170 volunteers descended upon the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation despite the weather. A true testament to the spirit of scouts and of Capt. Jones. These volunteers included Blue Mountain High School students, St. Joseph Center for Special Learning students, PPL, Hydro, Wegmans, Amazon – Bethel, M&T Bank, Evans Network of Companies, the law firm of Williamson, Friedberg, & Jones LLC., and family & friend of Capt. Jones.

These volunteers braved the rain to help set up camp sites and prep the 700-acre campus for the 1,300 youth they serve every summer. 

SARCC

In a statement from the Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center (SARCC), Ali Perrotto stated, “As a Partner Agency of the Schuylkill United Way, we work collaboratively to try to address the housing crisis for ALICE households in our community. We are grateful to the SUW Capt. Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring volunteers who came out today to help begin the renovations on a permanent supported housing project for SARCC. This new program, initiated following strategic planning from the Schuylkill County Human Trafficking Response Team, and with the partnership of Schuylkill County Mental Health Services, will provide safe, affordable, and justice-informed housing for sexual violence survivors.”

17 volunteers from EMD Electronics tour out carpet, deep cleaned, and make other renovations and repairs this new home that open a new chapter for SARCC and our county.

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These individuals and families earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but make less than what’s needed to afford basic essentials. As of 2021, 28% of households in Schuylkill County were considered ALICE. You can learn more about the ALICE report and ALICE in Pennsylvania and in Schuylkill County at www.uwp.org/about-alice/.

Volunteers & Locations: We focus on meeting the needs of our 15 Partner Agencies and then spreading volunteers to other organizations and areas.  Battling the rain this year meant many projects were postponed today. This year volunteers went to the following locations (** indicates an SUW Partner Agency):

Site Locations:

• **American Red Cross Pennsylvania River Chapter (in partnership with Rangers Hose Company, Girardville)
  • Volunteers from: Geisinger/St. Luke’s Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital Miners Campus, UGI, Schuylkill Community Action, the Office of U.S. Senator John Fetterman, and Lehigh Valley Hospital – Schuylkill
• **Avenues
  • Volunteers from: Amazon – Frailey Township, CACL Financial, EMD Electronics, Hydro, and Wells Fargo
• Borough of Orwigsburg
  • Volunteers from Blue Mountain High School
• Borough of Palo Alto
  • Volunteers from Access Services and CACL Financial
• **Child Development, Inc. –
  • Fountain Springs Center – Schuylkill Area Community Foundation
  • Mahanoy City – Volunteers from Highwood
  • Pottsville – Volunteers from Pottsville Rotary
  • Tamaqua – EMD Electronics
• **Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation
  • Volunteers from: Family & friends of Captain Jones, Blue Mountain High School, St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, M&T Bank, PPL, Hydro, Wegmans, Williamson, Friedberg, and Jones Law Firm, SUW Staff and their families
• Helping Harvest Mobile Markets
  • Volunteers from Mauch Chunk Trust Company, Mid Penn Bank, and UGI
• Hope & Coffee Tamaqua
  • Volunteers from EMD Electronics
• Minersville High School
  • Volunteers from Schuylkill Indivisibles
• New Life Thrift Store
  • Volunteers from Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council and MRD Lumber
• **Nurse Family Partnership
  • Volunteers from Mauch Chunk Trust Company
• Orwigsburg Borough
  • Volunteers from Blue Mountain High School (students and staff)
• **Salvation Army, Pottsville Corps
  • Volunteers from Lehigh Valley Health Network – Water and Irene Baran Schuylkill Family Medicine Residency
• **SARCC
  • Volunteers from EMD Electronics and Fulton Bank
• Servants to All
  • Volunteers from Hidden River Credit Union
• Schuylkill County Historical Society
  • Volunteers from Access Services and CACL Financial
• **Schuylkill HOPE Center for Victims of Domestic Violence
  • Volunteers from FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Center and Mrs. T’s Pierogies
• **Schuylkill YMCA
  • Volunteers from Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council and MRD Lumber
• **Tamaqua Area Adult Day Care Center – 801 E. Broad Street in Tamaqua
  • Clients are writing letters for our Operation Gratitude opportunity.
• Special Note: The 4^th grade students of Blue Mountain Elementary West will again be traveling to the Cressona Cemetery to clean up and place American flags on the graves of our veterans. The 5^th grade class will be going to the VA in Lebanon to sing for the veterans. Suzy Jones, Capt. Jones’ mother, attends to share his life and passion with the students.

Special Thanks to:

• Suzy and Joseph H. Jones, Jr, parents of Captain Jones, and his family and friends who volunteers today.
• Every volunteer who served through the rain and those who are working diligently to reschedule and continue to serve.

Operation Gratitude project: A major part of SUW Captain Jason B. Jones Memorial Day of Caring are letter writing campaigns organized by schools, nursing homes, and every library in Schuylkill County. Last year, we collected over 2,300 letters to send to Operation Gratitude who include them in care packages sent to our service men and women all around the globe. It’s a phenomenal organization and a great way to honor Captain Jones and thank those who are currently serving all of us. We hope to exceed that number as our collections are happening throughout the month of May.