As Christie McDowell worked Saturday morning to collect leaf and branch clippings in a bucket, she looked back to see homeowner Marilyn Lage looking on.

“There’s the boss over there,” McDowell said, at first joking that she looked like a taskmaster. But she and Lage both laughed. “I’d work for you any day.”

“I’d have you any day, honey,” Lage replied.

McDowell and her grandmother, Janice Harvey, both of Brownsdale, worked with the United Way of Mower County’s annual Day of Caring Saturday to complete yard work on Lage’s 10th Place Northeast yard.

McDowell has participated in Day of Caring for about four or five years after getting involved through Hormel Foods Corp.’s Helping Hands committee. She and co-worker Jordan Evenson were paired with Lage about three years ago and have been coming back ever since, though Evenson was unable to participate this year.

“We want to get Marilyn and Marilyn wants to get us,” McDowell said.

With Evanson unable to attend, McDowell invited her grandmother to help out and fill in, in part so she could meet Lage.

Since Lage’s husband, William, passed away in 2010, she has appreciated the help through Day of Caring.

“It’s meant a lot,” she said. “It’s a big yard; I’ve lost my husband. I try to keep things up, but things get out of hand. They help me in the yard to just get things trimmed up and looking nice.”

On Saturday, McDowell and Harvey trimmed branches and flowers, moved decorative stones and completed general work to get the yard ready for the change in seasons.

McDowell recalls cleaning Lage’s garage windows a few years ago, even though she joked they were cleaner than her own house windows.

But it’s not just about the work, as McDowell, Evenson and Lage have bonded over the years.

“Well look at her,” Lage said. “How do you not like her? She’s just a sweetheart.”

McDowell said they always enjoy visiting and hearing Lage’s stories. Even before meeting Saturday, Lage and Harvey had a connection too, as Harvey’s brothers took classes from Lage’s late husband, William.

But the bonds don’t end at Day of Caring. With Evenson unable to attend this year, he and McDowell may meet Lage for lunch. McDowell and Evenson also trade holiday cards with Lage, who McDowell called a “lifelong friend.”

A few years ago, Lage told McDowell that she missed her husband’s warmth when it got cold, so McDowell sent her a heated throw for Christmas.

“I didn’t know how you could remember that, but it is plugged in and used every single day,” Lage told McDowell.

McDowell even picked a throw that was the right shade of blue to match Lage’s collection of Copenhagen plates, which McDowell has seen when they had coffee one year.

“I’ll never forget, ever,” Lage said.

McDowell’s experience with Lage and Day of Caring has inspired her to volunteer elsewhere, largely through Helping Hands.

 Day of Caring

In all, volunteers completed 43 projects for the United Way of Mower County’s 2015 Day of Caring.

About 220 people volunteered this year, which was up from 2014’s 170.

Volunteers include a mixture of school groups, work groups and families.

Volunteers typically help homeowners with small tasks. They’ll put lawn items or furniture away for the winter, wash windows, paint, trim weeds, remove brush, clean gutters and more.

“The Day of Caring is an opportunity for the United Way to be visible in the community outside of our annual campaign,” United Way Project Coordinator Cameron Johnson wrote in an email to the Herald. “It’s a fun way for our organization and volunteers to give back to the community in addition to the community investment process. We work hard to create a great experience for our volunteers and the homeowners and agencies who receive the services on Day of Caring.”