Cathy’s Person Of The Week Shows That Big Hearts Come in Small Packages

In its 18th year, Comcast Cares Days is a huge testimony to volunteerism and service in America. Comcast NBCUniversal has engaged over one million volunteers to help strengthen the communities where their customers and employees live and work.

This year, Comcast selected the Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden (KNMBG), on the grounds of Memorial School in Washington, for their two-day community service event. The Butterfly Garden, founded in 1996, is an award-winning quarter-acre schoolyard, wildlife habitat, community garden. It’s open to the public, and offers a quiet place to explore and enjoy a plethora of plants and butterflies.

Over 75 volunteers of all ages helped “Make Change Happen” during both Comcast Cares Days, plus several work days of preparation. They represented Memorial School’s KNMBG Youth Gardener Families, the KNMBG Garden Club, KNMBG Community Volunteers and “The KNMBG Dirty Dozen,” Comcast employees and families, Smith Motors, NJ Youth Corps of Phillipsburg, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, WHRHS SAVE, WHRHS National Honor Society, WHRHS Student Film Crew, Middle School Students, ATT Pioneers, and the Washington Borough Green Team. 

On May 4, Comcast Cares Day #1, the hard-working team of volunteers fully completed the installation of the new fence around the garden, along with some upkeep and maintenance chores.

May 19, Comcast Cares Day #2, brought together another, even larger group of volunteers with a focus on youth and families for weeding, garden planting, and preparing an area for a reading patio.

Among those digging dirt and spreading mulch on May 19 was three-year-old Daemon Nicholson, a resident of Washington, along with his father, Spencer, a Comcast employee, his mother, Samantha, and his big sister, Skyler, 10.

As immersed as he was in all the work going on around him, there was a compelling need to get to know Daemon a little bit better. He certainly went out of his way to make sure his mom always had a full cup of cold water. He pitched in to help his dad throw mulch around some new plantings. He supervised repairing some park benches. He made sure to get his little hands covered with dirt while he weeded, and his face covered with paint when decorating a flower pot!

Daemon has two cats, Buddy and Squeakers. His favorite toys are his puppy, which he sleeps with every night, and his collection of monster trucks. His favorite books are “The How Do Dinosaurs…?” series. When asked about this favorite movie, his mom explained, “He has many favorites, but this week it’s How To Train Your Dragon.” He loves basketball. When his sister played this season he’d bring his basketball to the games. While watching the game he would hold the ball on his lap, just waiting for half time when he could go on the court and play!

His mom said, “Daemon has finally started to really come out of his shell. He was a shy little boy but was always very sweet and very helpful…all while still being a non-stop crazy little boy!”

Pleased to meet you, Daemon!

When it comes to the people and happenings of Warren County, you can count on award-winning photographer Cathy Miller to be there to record the moment.