PUBLIX SERVES DAY: A UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING 
150 VOUNTEERS AT SALUSCARE AND SALVATION ARMY
FORT MYERS, FL. (April 11, 2018) During Publix Serves Day, 150 associates from 20 local Publix stores converged on SalusCare’s Ortiz campus, and The Salvation Army’s Edison Avenue building for a United Way Day of Caring. The United Way Volunteer Center worked with SalusCare, The Salvation Army, and Publix to organize the volunteer events. SalusCare and The Salvation Army are United Way Partner Agencies.
Publix Serves Day is a companywide effort that involves their associates in a variety of volunteer work. While Publix associates give back individually throughout the year, associates look forward to helping their communities and team building with fellow associates within their respective districts to help to change lives.
At SalusCare’s Building G, the 80 Publix volunteers painted the outside and inside of the building. Because it is being repurposed for a children’s center, it will be called SalusCare Center for Growth, and will be dedicated to a comprehensive practice for all of a child’s behavioral healthcare needs. Consolidating services in one building, and making surroundings more attractive and inviting will help in terms of improved patient care and family comfort. 
70 Publix associates volunteered for spring cleaning at The Salvation Army Outreach Services Center. They painted the outside areas of the center, mowed and weeded the landscape, and cleaned and organized the freezer and dry storage pantry. As part of any good spring cleaning, the volunteers thoroughly cleaned the Shelter Unit rooms. The volleyball court, which is great therapy for residents, was refurbished with new sand and smoothing of the surface. Debris from Hurricane Irma remained on the center property, and the volunteers dealt with the branches and raked up the leaves.
Publix Serves Day honors Publix founder George Jenkins who fervently believed in giving back to the community, and Publix employees are still carrying on the tradition. Brian West, Publix spokesperson, said, “We have the greatest associates. Every day, they give back to their communities in so many great ways. Publix Serves Day is an opportunity for them to do something together, and meet the needs of organizations in a big way.”
“Publix Super Markets and their great associates live their founder’s belief of giving back to the community. Publix volunteers make a difference in the lives of thousands of people in our community by volunteering for projects like this, and at our United Way Partner Agencies. Thank you Publix for giving back to our community through Publix Serves Day and United Way Days of Caring,” said Cliff Smith, President of the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee.
Todd Cordisco, Vice President, Public Relations and Development for SalusCare said, “Without the assistance of Publix and its employees through Publix Serves Day, we would not have been able to fully complete the renovations and improvements, both inside and outside of Building G on the Ortiz Campus. We want the first impression for our families to be a positive one as they enter the building for services. Families and children will immediately know that this space has been designed with them in mind, and we hope it adds to their comfort while at SalusCare receiving behavioral healthcare services. On behalf of the patients we serve, thank you to Publix and its associates for their efforts. We couldn’t have done it without you!”
“We are amazed how the Publix Serves Day-United Way Day of Caring went! Our staff was impressed with the work that the Publix Team did including painting, lawn work, pressure washing, refurbishing our volleyball court and the list goes on. When I first met with Publix to discuss the work, I thought to myself this is really too much to ask, but they just said “No Problem, we got this.” The most impressive part was that they all freely volunteered their time. Without a doubt “Publix really CARES”. The United Way and their efforts to support the local non-profit community efforts is heartfelt. They genuinely care about the people of Southwest Florida. We are so grateful, and feel privileged to be a United Way Partner,” said Russell Rieder, Director of Facilities and Properties for The Salvation Army.
United Way
The United Way’s Day of Caring is a year-round program, coordinated by the United Way Volunteer Center which matches businesses’ desire to help with the needs of the community. Many local groups and companies have participated such as Lee Health, Chico’s, and FineMark National Bank. The United Way Volunteer Center connects individuals and companies to volunteer opportunities throughout our community. The United Way Volunteer Center also manages the Family Mentor Program, ReadingPals, and VITA. You can reach the United Way Volunteer Center by calling (239) 433-2000, Option 9, or by visiting the United Way website at www.UnitedWayLee.org.
SalusCare 
SalusCare, Inc. is a Fort Myers based not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse service provider incorporated in 2013 after the merger of Lee Mental Health Center and Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS). SalusCare has seven locations throughout Southwest Florida and serves more than 16,000 people each year. Our fees are affordable and may be adjusted to the means of our patients based on household income. SalusCare provides services for all regardless of disability or handicap. All substance abuse programs and most mental health services are accredited by CARF International, an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. For additional information, go to www.SaluscareFlorida.org.
The Salvation Army
Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 84 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out those services in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. For more information, go to 
www.SalvationArmyLeeCounty.org. The Salvation Army is proud to be a United Way partner agency.