Volunteerism
This Friday United Way of Southeast Missouri will kick off our annual community drive with United Days of Caring, a weekend of giving back to the community. Normally, United Way works behind the scenes, investing in organizations and programs that deliver help to families and create lasting change for generations. This year we want people to see United Way strengthening the communities we serve: Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City, Perryville and Bollinger County.
Friday at 8:30 a.m., volunteers will meet at the new Capaha Park pavilion for a quick breakfast before heading out to a wide variety of projects in each community. On Friday and Saturday volunteers will build homes, strip floors, paint a sanctuary or senior nutrition center, stock a food pantry or clean up trash. Others will learn how to become a Read to Succeed volunteer and spend an hour a week in Cape’s elementary schools encouraging a new reader. Students in many area schools will write letters to first responders and senior citizens and practice random acts of kindness. Many area businesses are collecting food, hygiene products and socks, which can also be donated at kickoff and project sites. There is still plenty of time for an organization to register a project and for volunteers to register to participate via a link on our website: unitedwayofsemo.org/daysofcaring.
To celebrate our weekend of giving, United Way will host a 9/11 ceremony at 2:00 at the Common Please Park and Gazebo on September 9th. All singers are invited to arrive at 1:00 to practice patriotic songs and a piece written just for United Days of Caring. After the brief ceremony, we hope families will stay for a Community Celebration with bounce houses, lawn games, a DJ and dancing.
This weekend and through the year when United Way comes to your workplace or a letter arrives in your mailbox, please remember the thousands of Southeast Missouri families we strengthen and accept our invitation to Give, Advocate, Volunteer. By partnering with organizations that support our fight for the health, education and financial stability of everyone, we look forward to United Days of Caring and a weekend of all neighbors coming together to Live Untied.
