United Way of Summit County has rolled-out a strategy that will fundamentally change the scope of the organization’s volunteer engagement and will leverage corporate social responsibility to promote positive change in Summit County. Through the organization’s new 2016 Community Engagement Calendar, corporations can find a variety of hands-on volunteer opportunities to help employees understand, experience and feel connected to the work of United Way.
United Way’s community engagement projects can accept large groups, offer teambuilding and networking opportunities and are planned by United Way staff.
2016 engagement opportunities include:
Page It Forward Book Drive
February 1-29, 2016
Donate books and give the gift of reading to children in Summit County.
A Sort-A-Thon will be held on Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2, 2016
Read to Me Day I
March 4, 2016
Volunteers read aloud to children in a Barberton City Schools classroom.
Smart Start Baby Shower Collection
April 4-29, 2016
Collect baby items to help at-risk mothers and give their newborns a strong start.
A Sort-a-Thon and Baby Shower will be held in May (date TBD)
Day of Action
June 17, 2016
United Way’s annual Day of Action mobilizes and inspires individuals and corporations on the same day, across Summit County and in a highly visible way, to channel passion into action.
Stuff the Bus
July 5 – August 15, 2016
Collect school supplies for Akron Public School children.
Volunteers will also be needed for a Sort-a-Thon and to deliver the supplies on the first day of school.
Read to Me Day II
November 3, 2016
Volunteers read to elementary school students in Akron Public Schools and donate the books to the classrooms.
Holiday Snack Pack Food Drive
November 28 – December 16, 2016
Collect food for at-risk children to eat on their holiday school break.
A Sort-a-Thon will be held on December 21 where volunteers will pack meal kits.
"Volunteers play a vital role in United Way’s work to make our community stronger," said Jim Mullen, United Way president and CEO. "This calendar of events will help local companies meet their corporate social responsibility goals by engaging employees in volunteerism while also uniting large numbers of volunteers to make a difference for our neighbors."
“United Way is working to strengthen and improve the way we attract, inspire and deepen the passion and knowledge of our volunteers and donors,” said Sarah Catherine Teixeira, United Way’s vice president of Resource Development. “We know employees are keen to volunteer when they do it as a team and when their company supports United Way to organize and run the project for them.”
A full schedule of this year’s events and a downloadable calendar can be viewed at uwsummit.org/volunteer.