Volunteers, projects sought for United Way of North Idaho’s Day of Action
Volunteers Amy Henkle and Vincent Martinez spiff up the gazebo at the Museum of North Idaho during United Way of North Idaho's spring Day of Action in May. The fall Day of Action is Sept. 24. Registration for volunteers and projects is now open.
Photo courtesy of United Way of North Idaho
United Way of North Idaho needs helping hands and compassionate hearts for its fall Day of Action on Sept. 24 at sites across North Idaho.
Formerly Day of Caring, UWNI’s Day of Action brings together volunteers from local businesses, area nonprofits and the community at large to orchestrate several service projects.
Past tasks have included raking, painting, weeding, chopping wood, organizing and cleaning for nonprofits including North Idaho CASA, the Human Rights Education Institute, Community Action Partnership and Companions Animal Center. Volunteers during the Sept. 24 event will conduct fall cleanups, sweep parking lots, paint dining rooms, shampoo carpets and more.
“At its heart, Day of Action is about neighbors helping neighbors," Erica Wrublik, executive director of United Way of North Idaho, said Friday. "Day of Action mobilizes community members to support local nonprofits, many of which operate with very limited resources, allowing them to focus more of their time and energy on their missions to improve lives across North Idaho."
All volunteer opportunities and current project listings are managed through Volunteer North Idaho (volunteernorthidaho.org/VNI). Nonprofits can submit projects through Sept. 10.
Day of Action volunteer registration is open through Sept. 15, and participation is free.
Volunteers will receive lunch and event T-shirts, along with a sense of community goodwill.
In addition to providing a service day for those who want to give back, Day of Action offers team building and positive vibes that boost morale as volunteers return to the office.
Several local companies repeatedly return with teams happy to spend a day helping others, including Mountain West Bank, US Bank and Avista.
“It’s in Avista’s nature to work together,” Avista construction services technician II Kaylee Clark said. “By volunteering as a team, we can help support local organizations and support the communities that we live and work in.”
She said volunteering for Day of Action gives employees who aren’t typically outside a chance to connect with the communities they support.
“It’s an opportunity for our employees to work toward a common goal and to see the positive impact they can make in the community,” Clark said. “It creates a sense of teamwork and purpose that carries back into the workplace with them.”