Day of Caring: Local Businesses and Community Members Participate in Volunteer Work

Continuing its focus on developing volunteerism in the Juneau community, United Way of Southeast Alaska sponsored a Day of Caring event to kick off their Annual Giving Campaign on Tuesday, October 1, 2013. 

Each year, generous local businesses encourage their employees to spend a workday engaged in volunteer projects at local non-profit organizations as part of Day of Caring.  This year, United Way matched approximately 50 volunteers from 4 local businesses with 6 projects.  Workplace team members volunteered their time and skills in order to complete much needed service projects such as painting entry halls and office spaces, cleaning and sanitizing children’s playrooms, landscaping and maintaining flower beds, picking up trash, and constructing a new swing set.

“Juneau’s non-profit organizations are always delighted to receive volunteers to help with projects because these projects would otherwise be put on the back burner or not done at all,” said Mary Becker, Board Chair.

“Day of Caring offers participants an opportunity to not only lend a hand with valuable projects at local non-profit organizations, but also learn more about these agencies and the valuable services they provide to the Juneau community,” said Wayne Stevens, Director of United Way of Southeast Alaska.  “Participants in Day of Caring who give to United Way of Southeast Alaska during their annual workplace campaign are also able to make a personal connection and see how these agencies benefit from their generous contributions.”

United Way of Southeast Alaska gratefully acknowledges DIPAC and the Prospector Hotel for use of their facilities as well as Heritage Coffee and Baxter, Bruce and Sullivan for their donations of food to this event.

Business & Agency Matches:

Community members and personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard constructed a swing set for REACH, Inc.

Personnel from different departments with the City and Borough of Juneau painted walls at Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) and completed grounds work for Juneau Youth Services.

REACH, INC. landscaped and maintained grounds for Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. (JAMHI)

True North Federal Credit Union picked up trash along Big Brother Big Sister’s stretch of adopt-a-highway.

Wells Fargo Bank and Home Mortgage deep cleaned the basement of AWARE’s shelter.