Volunteers lend a hand, build up community with United Way for ‘Day of Doing: Build It, They Will Come’

By Roger Luke
Vice-President of Communications

 

Painting, landscaping and cleaning may not be the first thing people think of doing on a Friday, but for several eager organizations and volunteers, it was exactly what they wanted to do as part of United Way of the Big Bend’s (UWBB) DAY OF DOING called “Build It, They Will Come” Dec. 2.

 

UWBB partnered with four of its certified agencies to offer opportunities for volunteers to roll up their sleeves and leave a lasting impression.

 

“Our ‘DAYS OF DOING’ program has been so well received because it gives everyday people an opportunity to build up their community … it’s as simple as that,” said Heather Mitchell, resource development vice-president. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with our certified agencies for this DAY OF DOING, which focused on improving their workplace and surroundings for their clients and employees. Volunteer opportunities like this make it easy for anyone to spend a little of their time and do something about it. The local community is a better place because of their efforts.”

 

It didn’t take long for the volunteer spots to be filled. Access Tallahassee Leads Group A painted two rooms at the Big Bend Homeless Coalition’s HOPE Community. Florida State University student athletes painted a conference room at the PACE Center for Girls. A team from SunTrust Bank organized sheds, resource rooms, label shelves, and containers at Kids Incorporated’s Budd Bell Early Learning Center. The Challenger Learning Center team organized books, cleaned a shed and painted two bathrooms at Kids Incorporated’s Parkway Early Head Start Center. United Way of the Big Bend’s team trimmed bushes and removed yard waste from the property of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend.

 

“We are grateful to our partners who helped to make this a reality and our volunteers who made it work,” Mitchell said. “DAYS OF DOING was created to promote the spirit and value of volunteerism, increase the awareness of local human-service needs, and demonstrate what people working together for the community’s good can accomplish. This is another illustration of the positive impact we can make in our community when we LIVE UNITED.”

 

The DAYS OF DOING program provides opportunities for local residents to volunteer within an office, or with friends and family, to help those in need in our community. For individuals and organizations that couldn’t participate, they are encouraged to consider doing a food drive, clothes drive or toy drive to support the Christmas Connection. UWBB staff will pick up and deliver all contributions. Being a part of this day of community service helps to bring awareness to the needs of people in the Big Bend. For more information on DAYS OF DOING and future dates, call Heather Mitchell at 414-0855 or send an email to heather@uwbb.org.