The American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation donated equipment and volunteers to provide outdoor play areas at The Playing Field’s new childcare facility in Madison, Wis., in July.
Volunteers and equipment from The Toro Company, Ditch Witch, Event Essentials, MJ Miller Combined Companies, Lincoln Contractors Supply, Manitou, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Sunbelt-Sun Prairie, JK Rentals, Middleton Farmers Coop, Hitachi Global Air Power and United Way of Dane County came together to revitalize the landscape with new trees and sod for five playgrounds.
The Playing Field is a Dane County nonprofit providing access to childcare and early education opportunities for families wanting to move out of poverty. They also partner with Road Home and Plumbers Union Local 75 to assist families with affordable housing, case management services and workforce development. This is one of the ARA Foundation Community Impact Projects that take place across the country to improve communities in which ARA members live.
“I’ve been on the verge of tears all day,” said Abbi Kruse, executive director of The Playing Field. “The thought of having to do this work ourselves would’ve taken a month and so much money. We are just so grateful for all of the volunteers.”
As this team of volunteers worked in extreme heat conditions, they were overjoyed to have a visit from the children benefiting from this special project. More than 30 volunteers and 11 companies joined forces to lay 81 cubic yards of mulch and 1,760 square feet of sod. All of these materials combined have been used to turn an old lumber yard into five beautiful play spaces for the children at The Playing Field. The center is due to open in September of this year.
Along with the work done on the property, The ARA Foundation donated a $20,000 grant to The Playing Field to support the expenses associated with the project.
