Like the first day of school and the changing colors of the leaves, there are some things you can depend on every fall. United Way of Snohomish County’s Day of Caring is one of them.
For more than a decade now, hundreds of people have put aside the daily grind to spend half a day helping out around the county. Whether painting, pulling weeds, reading with students or sorting canned goods at a food bank, these people not only make a noticeable impact in just a few short hours, they set a tone of volunteering that lasts the whole year.
If you haven’t signed up for the 2004 Day of Caring, set for next Friday, check with your company or visit the non-profit agency’s Web site for more information at www.uwsc.org. If taking half a day off work simply isn’t going to happen, let this event be the catalyst that encourages you to find an area of service where you can devote some time to helping others. But be prepared: Your co-workers will come back tired but exhilarated and full of fantastic stories about the people they met and the work they did while you went through your normal routine.
Next Friday also marks the beginning of United Way’s annual community fundraising campaign – another opportunity to make a lasting impact with just a small portion of your paycheck.
The agency has experienced some changes in the past year, including the arrival of new president Carl Zapora in July. The former regional director with United Way of America has been busy familiarizing himself with the agency and the community. He boasts that not many other United Way organizations across the country are as far along as ours in creating vision councils to help and monitor results for families, children and the community.
Our area will play catch-up, though, to some others that already boast a 211 call system to address social and emergency questions and needs. The number – sort of a cross between 911 and 411 – will be a one-stop information source for people who need helping finding everything from food and shelter to classes for learning English.
The approach of Sept. 11 reminds us that we should always look for ways to help people in need. The Day of Caring is a perfect way to get started or to continue a legacy of service.
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