Submitted by United Way of Thurston County
It’s true when they say strength comes in numbers. That is why United Way of Thurston County’s Day of Caring has continued its longstanding partnership with Evergreen State College and welcomes new partners, Olympia Downtown Association (ODA).
Day of Caring kicks off on September 26 as the single largest day of volunteerism in Thurston County, connecting hundreds of volunteers with local nonprofit organizations to complete projects that may not otherwise get done. Last year, over 750 registered participants volunteered to paint and landscape disabled individual’s homes, harvest for food banks and repair parks.
On Sept. 26, ODA will host its annual Downtown Clean Up alongside United Way’s Day of Caring to further increase the impact of volunteerism in the community. “ODA brings an average of 150 volunteers each year during its Downtown Clean Up event,” said Olympia Downtown Association Event & Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Combs. “We’re excited to join forces with Day of Caring to bring more community members together around the good work in Thurston County.”
In addition, Evergreen State College will engage approximately 150 incoming freshman students with volunteer work on various projects throughout the county during Day of Caring. “As a community, we have the power to accomplish more than any single group can on its own,” said United Way Executive Director, Paul Knox. “That is what makes our partnerships with ODA and Evergreen State College so great.”
The South Sound Reading Foundation, City of Olympia Park Stewardship Program, Homes First, Family Support Center, and HeartStrides Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship are just a few of the agencies with new projects while businesses like; Athena Group, Guild Mortgage, Harborstone Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Townsend Security and Olympia Federal Savings prepare teams to volunteer.
In addition to the Downtown Clean Up project, participants may expect to see projects such as reorganizing books, helping beautify the new Family Support Center, painting low-income housing and much more!
Project sign-ups (including the Downtown Clean Up project) will be available on Volunteer Connection (www.getconnected.unitedway-thurston.org) on August 1st. Teams and individuals can view projects and register through the site on a first come, first served basis.
For more information about Day of Caring and registration, please contact Sara Kukkonen at vistavol@unitedway-thurston.org or call (360) 943-2773 ext. 22.
