Volunteer groups needed for annual Day of Caring

Now is the time to sign up to help area non-profit agencies!

More than 35 area non-profit agencies and organizations have identified projects they need help with for the 14th annual United Way of NW MI. Day of Caring coming up Sept. 10, and dozens more are expected to submit requests.

Now it’s the community’s turn.

Groups representing businesses, schools, families, neighborhoods and others are being asked to come forward and adopt a project for this annual community-wide celebration of volunteerism. Last year, nearly 80 projects were adopted by community groups, making for participation by approximately 800 volunteers.

“Right now, we’re looking for volunteer teams from companies, schools, service organizations, families,” said Susan McQuaid, director of the Volunteer Center at United Way of Northwest Michigan. “The needs are bigger than ever with our non-profits – so big, I truly believe many haven’t submitted projects yet because they don’t have the funds to buy the supplies they need to get the jobs done. “I think there are many who would love to say, ‘Yes, we’d love to have our porch painted,’ but they can’t afford the paint.”

A sampling of projects needing volunteer support this year includes preparing meals for the homeless the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend, when regular staff is off; assembling gift baskets for military returning from deployment; collecting nonperishable food for 38 food pantries; a baby supply drive for the Doula teen parent program; a toothbrush and toothpaste drive for elementary students; cleaning carpets and other maintenance for the Women’s Resource Center and its Helen’s House shelter; and dozens more.

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, which needs a team this year to work on trail building, maintenance, planting and other tasks, has participated in the Day of Caring in previous years. Volunteer Program Coordinator Rolf VonWalthausen said the organization relies on this annual boost of volunteer manpower. “We depend almost wholly on volunteers to help carry out the management plans on our preserves, and in many cases, there are projects that can’t be done by a single volunteer or even a couple,” he said. “We don’t have the capacity to do it without these large groups.” In the past, he said, Day of Caring volunteers have performed major trail maintenance, installed boardwalks, removed entire fields of invasive species, distributed gravel on parking lots and handled other infrastructure improvements. “The groups seem to have a really fun time,” VonWalthausen explained. “They’re enjoying being outdoors, working hard and helping each other accomplish a common goal. Usually by the end of the day they’re hugging each other, congratulating everybody on work well done. “It’s a real spirit of cooperation.”

Teams are asked to sign up soon so that they can be matched with the projects of their choice. There are also opportunities for individuals and organizations to adopt a project by providing funding for supplies and equipment for cleaning and repairs when agencies don’t have the funds themselves.

To view a list of available projects so far, visit http://unitedwaynwmi.org/DOCProjects.html. To find out more about the Day of Caring, sign up to volunteer, register a project or make donations to support a project, call McQuaid at 231-947-3200, Ext. 205, or email to susan@unitedwaynwmi.org.