Days of Caring runs Aug. 17-22
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on August 13, 2015 1:46 PM
Whether it's delivering a meal to a homebound person, installing a smoke alarm in a home that doesn't have one or collecting food for the Salvation Army, Wayne County residents will be out helping their neighbors next week during United Way of Wayne County's annual Days of Caring.
The event, which has been going on here for many years, will take place Aug. 17 through 22 throughout the day.
"We have activities each day of the week at all different times of the day," said United Way's community engagement manager Catherine Lechot. "We realize everybody has a different schedule. Some people aren't able to get away during the workday to participate.
"Something we're encouraging everybody to do if you can't get away is to have a supply drive at work. It can be food for the Salvation Army's food pantry or supplies for the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County. Or you can conduct a drive for other agencies."
Each year during Days of Caring, local agencies submit their needs requests to United Way, which matches community volunteers to that need.
"So far this year, we have about 60 volunteers signed up," Mrs. Lechot said. "Our goal is to have 70. There's still time to register online by going to volunteerwayne.org and clicking on the Days of Caring bar to volunteer. It lists all of the opportunities available."
Projects this year vary.
"A new project we have this year is a Scrub the Club event at the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne County," Mrs. Lechot said. "They want to do some deep cleaning at the club.
"Also, the Red Cross has reached out to us to get some volunteers to do a smoke alarm installation. They found an area with houses in need of smoke alarms. In an attempt to save lives and the structures, they are going in and installing smoke alarms. Still need people to sign up.
"You're not going to go out alone. And the residents know you're coming; it's not like you're just showing up at their house randomly. The Red Cross provides all the training and everything you'll need. They just need people."
One project that had been done for several years during Days of Caring, but hasn't been done in recent years is reading in the local day cares.
"Volunteers go in and read a book to the students at the daycare," Mrs. Lechot said. "It's through Partnership for Children. They can coordinate a day care close to where you are located. They will make it for a day and time that's convenient for you. You can either take your own book if you have a favorite or read a book from the day care."
Mrs. Lechot said this particular need gives students the chance to interact with people in the community. And it allows people in the community to interact with the children. And literacy is very important.
"Doing any project, it is opening your eyes to needs within the community," Mrs. Lechot said. "And it's great we have these volunteers during Days of Caring, but it would great if the volunteers would volunteer on a more regular basis. A lot of times, volunteers use Days of Caring as a jumping off point. They get the contact to deal directly with whatever agency they want to volunteer with and continue volunteering."