Day Of Caring Changes During Covid-19 Mobilizing 700 Volunteers On September 16th
United Way NSV Day Of Caring Changes During Covid-19 Mobilizing 700 Volunteers On September 16th
Winchester, VA September 9th, 2020 - This year, Day of Caring, presented by First Bank, will cover 87 projects and 35 local teams of volunteers on September 16th. The annual event was established to promote the spirit and value of volunteerism, and is the largest community service day in the Shenandoah Valley. This year, the event will continue, but organizers and project leaders have planned the event to be socially distant and have a number of other safety measures in place in order to keep all participants safe.
United Way NSV has seen an increase in the requests for help throughout the region and believes that volunteers can make a huge difference during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This year, due to COVID, we had to re-imagine what our 'Day of Caring’ would look like. This day is intended to be a demonstration that great things can be accomplished when we all work together for the good of the community,” said Day of Caring Chairwoman Beth Falu. “It also gives us a chance to thank and celebrate United Way and the agencies in our valley for always stepping up to the plate when disaster strikes or unfortunate circumstances hit. Through this trying time, we've been determined to find another way to keep this going, and we are so glad to be able to work together to do so.”
United Way NSV will be offering small group projects to accommodate people who want to volunteer in person. Some projects will be virtual or remote to accommodate at-risk volunteers. All projects have groups of less than 10 participants, with the majority taking place outdoors for safety. Some of the projects occurring this year are remote letter writing campaigns to the homebound elderly, improving spaces with partner agencies, building raised gardens, and helping with maintenance and landscaping around nonprofit facilities. United Way NSV will limit group size, taking extra precautions and adhering to CDC guidelines to ensure safety for all who participate. United Way will also be providing masks for all volunteers and requiring them to be worn for the entire day of service.
The traditional large group morning kick off will not happen as usual, but instead, United Way NSV will be streaming the event kickoff on Facebook (@UWNSV) the day of the event in place of the usual in-person breakfast.
“In this time of uncertainty brought about by COVID-19 it’s heartening to know that hundreds of people in our community still have the energy and selflessness to give of themselves to help their neighbors and community,” said Elise Stine-Dolinar, Director of Marketing and Outreach for United Way NSV.
For more information on the Day of Caring visit the United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley website http://www.unitedwaynsv.org/day-caring or contact the United Way office at 540-536-1610. photo opportunities at the followi