With its “Day of Caring” this month, the United Way of Scotland County will create a “one-stop shopping” experience to those interested in donating their time to a local nonprofit.
The Day of Caring is an annual initiative, designed to connect area residents with an opportunity to pitch in and serve the community. This year’s Day of Caring will be held on Aug. 17.
“Day of Caring combines service, volunteerism and community spirit,” said Debbie Grant, United Way of Scotland County director. “The focus is on serving others and building our community, making it a better place for everyone to live.”
The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a breakfast for volunteers and agency representatives at Scotland Memorial Hospital’s Dulin Center. Volunteers will travel from the Dulin Center to one of several local nonprofits to work on various projects, which will take from two to five hours to complete.
“This is just a time that we can let everyone know what we do and how we’re able to do it with the United Way’s support,” said Carol Ann Lentz, executive director of Scotland County’s American Red Cross chapter. “Volunteers will be paired up with the different projects that we have submitted. We encourage everybody who would like more information to volunteer with the Day of Caring.”
The 11 United Way member agencies participating in the Day of Caring include the Scotland County Humane Society, Scotland County Literacy Council, and Habitat for Humanity. The day’s volunteer projects will range from bathing and walking shelter dogs to sorting and creating food bags at Church Community Services and Project In As Much.
“On that day we have all of the items ready, and they will be coming to help us fill our 500 bags and get ready for school to start at the end of the month,” said Project In As Much Director Virginia Ray.
The Day of Caring serves as an opportunity for area residents and businesses to familiarize themselves with United Way as well as its member organizations.
“My goal is to educate people about United Way - I’m really surprised that many people I’ve talked to don’t know how United Way works,” Grant said. “United Way is sort of like one-stop shopping. We do all the paperwork and ensure that the agency has its nonprofit status, and we make sure that money stays in the county. Volunteers can give time and money to these agencies and know that they’ve already been checked out.”
“On that day, it’s exciting to have new people come and see what we do,” Ray added. “We can always use help. This is vacation time and some of our people will be gone, so it’s a great time for new people to come and get acquainted with what we do.”
Those who can’t participate on the day can contribute by donating items on the agencies’ wish lists, such as puppy and kitten food, office supplies, packaged snacks, cleaning supplies, and toiletries.
To volunteer for the Day of Caring or to donate items for agency wish lists, contact Grant at 276-6064 by Aug. 8.
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