United Way Day of Caring saves the day for seniors!
United Way of Kootenai County's mission is to improve lives in our community. We can't do this alone, so we rely on the generosity of our community, as well as many nonprofit agencies making a difference every day. Our work provides a connection of resources to need and person to person to bring the community together. The United Way Day of Caring was recently held on Sept. 18 and hundreds of volunteers showed up to help with dozens of projects. Below is a letter of appreciation from one of those projects...
Dear United Way of Kootenai County,
ElderHelp has provided firewood to seniors since 2005 when we provided firewood to some 30 seniors ... and it was manageable. Nine years later we provide firewood to more than 120 seniors all year long with the help of community volunteers and we process more than 400 cords of wood annually.
ElderHelp has been fortunate to have a steady flow of volunteers and gratefully accepts the community's willingness to spend time in the yard, about a half day, every Saturday. Usually the same small bands of volunteers gather and get a few cords cut, split and delivered.
United Way of Kootenai County's Day of Caring has always been a way for our organization to catch up as winter sets in. On average ElderHelp receives 30 to 40 volunteers for the Day of Caring event and processes 10 to 15 cords of firewood.
This year we were BLESSED to have some 68 volunteers that gave us 407 volunteer hours, which REALLY pushes us ahead of schedule by 3 to 4 weeks! It's so important to us to have the first load of fire wood delivered to all 125+ seniors before the end of September, so they are set should the weather change.
It's a big job and exhausting, but the net result is why we do this. All 68 volunteers who helped us through United Way's Day of Caring last Thursday know WHY we do this! The Corporate Teams worked hard to make this a GREAT day of service. So many seniors were blessed to receive their supply of firewood through their efforts. These corporate teams included Esterline, Architects West, Washington Trust Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Hecla employees.
Mission Accomplished - with the help of the Day of Caring and 68 volunteers coordinated by United Way. They delivered 2 cords each to 11 seniors, with 8 splitters, and split over 25 cords of wood on the ground for Volunteers to load and deliver this week!
We REALLY Do - LIVE UNITED!
From our Seniors to Your Volunteers... "Thank YOU for your Kindness."
- John Corcoran, president
Elder Help of North Idaho, Inc.
www.ElderHelpOfNorthIdaho.org
Volunteer Opportunities:
* The 5K Run for the Angels is Oct. 5 at noon beginning at Riverstone Park in Coeur d'Alene. The Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation is dedicated to educating the public on safe sleep practices for infants, bringing awareness to SIDS/SUID and providing grief support to those who have experienced a SUID/SIDS loss. Volunteer opportunities include manning a water station, directing racers, or helping at a booth. This is an inspirational afternoon. It is not just a 5K - it is a silent auction, educational opportunity and a remembrance ceremony is held for the Angels who inspired this Foundation. Volunteer for this fun event today.
* The 4th Annual FREE Community Thanksgiving Dinner is Thursday, Nov. 27 at the Fedora restaurant in Coeur d'Alene. Last year, in cooperation with community organizations, the event fed more than 1,200 people from our area for free. This year the planning committee is working hard preparing for an estimated 1,500 of our friends and neighbors who have been hit hardest by these trying economic times. Providing a nice Thanksgiving meal with amazing volunteers helps relieve pressure from families trying to give their extended families a memorable Thanksgiving. It can also provide a sense of comfort for those who are spending the holiday alone. There are many opportunities available to help, including being a hostess for the day, serving food, helping in the kitchen, bussing tables or volunteering for other restaurant related tasks. Sign up online today!
* AARP Tax-Aide Program needs volunteers. More than 6,000 low to moderate taxpayers of all ages in Kootenai and Shoshone counties were aided in completing and e-filing their federal and state tax returns for free in 2013. This coming season more computer literate persons are needed to keep up with the demands of this great service. A training program will begin in January for new participants. For more information, contact Warren Fischer at (208) 765-6589 or email WarrenFisher@prodigy.net.
For more information on how to register for these volunteer opportunities, visit www.kootenaiunitedway.org, click on the "VOLUNTEER" link to view this listing and other volunteer opportunities in YOUR community, or contact Jeanette Laster at United Way of Kootenai County, (208) 667-8112, Ext. 101.
Get Connected!
The United Way of Kootenai County Volunteer Center
GET CONNECTED!
* "One-Stop Volunteer Resource Center" for the whole community
* Ongoing and one-time volunteer opportunities
* TAKE ACTION
(208) 667-8112
Visit the United Way's Volunteer Center website: www.kootenaiunitedway.org
GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER