JON HELGASON/Arizona Daily Wildcat Janice Sexton, manager of editorial operations with the Steward Observatory, trims weeds at The Haven, a substance recovery center for women, Saturday. UA employees helped clean and refurbish the clinic as part of the United Way Day of Caring.

More than 100 UA employees and family members spent Saturday morning ripping three-foot tall weeds from the ground and laying bricks as part of what is becoming an annual UA tradition of helping out at a clinic for women with substance abuse problems.

Beginning at 8 a.m., workers from the UA gathered before starting their six-hour day of yard work and other tasks at the clinic, named The Haven, at 1107 E. Adelaide Drive.

Then they set to pulling weeds, painting buildings, raking the ground, building a brick patio, cleaning the playground and children's toys.

"I couldn't even guess how many bags of (waste) we have carried out," said Glory Novak, director of finance and administration for human relations.

Novak and Suzanne Yurasko, program coordinator for the Office of Community Relations, were co-chairs for UA's Day of Caring.

Sharon Alashinger, executive director of The Haven, said that the staff and the women of The Haven were very grateful for all the work the volunteers did.

"The work that needs to be done is huge and we have no money. Already, it would have taken weeks to do all that," she said.

Each year, the UA participates in the Day of Caring,

coordinated by United Way. This is the second year the UA has volunteered at The Haven.

Volunteers from other organizations across Tucson spent their Saturday volunteering at similar community centers as part of the annual event.

The Haven is a long-term residential facility that has been operating for 33 years, where about 160 women go for treatment each year. About 80 percent of the women who go for treatment are successful in recovering.

Women live in the facility for three months while they recover from their substance addiction and learn how to live a sober life. For the second and third month, the women are allowed to have their children live with them.

Some of the volunteers brought their children to help out. Some of the children watered the yard while others raked the playground or painted the playhouse.

Vince Pawlowski, an electronic technician, spent the morning laying bricks to design a patio next to the playground.

"The staff here came up with the idea of laying a patio and I came up with the pattern," he said.

The bricks fanned out around a tree in all directions, making a square spiral pattern.

Marsha Fishman, senior business manager in the attorney's office, felt the heat of the sun while pulling weeds as the work stretched into early afternoon.

"I did yard work, mostly, and then we got tired of the sun and came over to paint," she said.

The Haven is always looking for volunteers to help out, including students who want to work with rehabilitation and counseling or health care. People interested in yard work and painting are always welcome, Alashinger said.

Anyone who wants to get involved with The Haven can call Alashinger at 623-4590.

"We are so grateful," she said. "These are the best workers and they are so cheerful."