United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region is proud to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2018 as part of its annual Days of Caring initiative. This year United Way’s National Volunteer Week, taking place now through April 21st, offers a variety of opportunities in the Hudson Valley to volunteer and support the community with 13 projects across Dutchess and Orange counties and 17 corporate teams attending. United Way’s Days of Caring are sponsored by Orange & Rockland Utilities. National Volunteer Week 2018 also is supported by Mid-Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union.
“I am proud that there are so many volunteers in our community willing to step up and help out the nonprofits in our area. Our Days of Caring continue to grow!” said Melissa Clark, Director of Community Impact of United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region.
Volunteer teams from Marriott and United Way’s Loaned Executives helped kick-off National Volunteer Week projects on Friday, April 13th at the Free Friday Farm Stand presented monthly by Dutchess Outreach. With a mission to bring healthy food to the community, the volunteers supported Dutchess Outreach staff in the distribution of the donated fruits and vegetables to Poughkeepsie residents.
You can celebrate Earth Day and volunteer to help clean up areas of Poughkeepsie and Newburgh through two volunteer projects on April 21st:
· Join Hudson River Housing and Vassar College for the Earth Day Clean-Up of Middle Main Poughkeepsie and the Fall Kill Creek (9:00am – 12noon). To register and for more information, go to bit.ly/HRHCleanup.
· Join Safe Harbors of the Hudson for their annual Earth Day clean-up of Newburgh that’s followed by a barbecue (8:00am to 12:00noon)! To register and for more information, go to bit.ly/SafeHarboursCleanup.
A nationwide celebration established by Points of Light, National Volunteer Week is a civic and volunteer initiative that promotes the spirit of volunteerism and supports the work of nonprofit organizations in our community. The week draws people together with one common goal; taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be the center for change. It serves as an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice, and support to causes they care about in their community.
The official theme for National Volunteer Week is “Service Unites,” to “capture the power of change-makers to come together to build stronger, more vibrant communities through service” according to Points of Light. United Way’s participation in National Volunteer Week helps illustrate the great work nonprofits do in our in our region and demonstrates how people working together can accomplish a greater good.
This year businesses and organizations sending teams of volunteers to roll up their sleeves, include: AmerisourceBergen, Ball Corp, Bank of America, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., Community Heroes Project, Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, The GAP, Hudson Valley Young Professionals, Macy’s, Marriott, Poughkeepsie Galleria, Tompkins Mahopac Bank, UNFI, Young Leaders United, Zoe’s Ice Cream and United Way AmeriCorps members, UW Impact Council members and UW interns. Area businesses are encouraged to support United Way and its Days of Caring by allowing employees to join an existing service project or by creating a team of employees to volunteer together to support a service project. Businesses or individuals interested in finding out about volunteer opportunities in their area are invited to visit the UWDOR volunteer portal or contact Melissa Clark at 845-471-1900 ext. 3128 or email mclark@uwdor.org.
There are 13 different nonprofit agencies and organizations participating in National Volunteer Week in the Hudson Valley including:
· Boys & Girls Club of Poughkeepsie will have volunteers from Tompkins Mahopac Bank and the Poughkeepsie Galleria to help prepare their building for summer programs. (April 16)
· Cornerstone Family Healthcare will have volunteers from Macy’s sorting, organizing and painting their Encore stores in Cornwall. (April 20).
· In addition to the Friday Farm Stand, Dutchess Outreach will have volunteers from Marriott join them for a spring outdoor clean-up at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie including gardening and yardwork. (April 17)
· Dress for Success Dutchess County will have United Way interns and United Way AmeriCorps members sort and organize clothes and jewelry in preparation for their spring fund raiser sale to be held in Pleasant Valley (3 Maggioacomo Lane) this weekend. (April 20).
· Food Bank of the Hudson Valley in Cornwall-on-Hudson will have volunteers from Ball Corp and Macy’s sort and organize food donations. (April 20)
· Hudson River Housing and Vassar College’s annual spring Cleanup of Middle Main Poughkeepsie and the Fall Kill Creek is open to the public (see: bit.ly/HRHCleanup). Volunteer teams from Hudson Valley Young Professionals, Young Leaders United and United Way’s Community Heroes Project will join together for this Poughkeepsie Earth Day Clean-Up. (April 21, 9am – 12pm, Murphy Park, 517 Main Street, Poughkeepsie)
· Hudson Valley Community Center in Poughkeepsie will have volunteers from the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce help clean up the playground and prepare the area. (April 18)
· Newburgh Armory Unity Center will have volunteer teams from AmerisourceBergen, Legoland, UNFI and members of United Way Impact Council help with reading class and work in the garden. (April 21)
· Poughkeepsie Farm Project will have volunteers from Tompkins Mahopac Bank and Zoe’s Ice Cream assist with gardening and farming chores. (April 20)
· Safe Harbors of the Hudson will have volunteers from AmerisourceBergen, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., and GAP assist with the Newburgh Earth Day Community Clean-Up. This project is also open to the public (bit.ly/HRHCleanup). (April 21, 8am – 12noon, Ritz Theater, 107 Broadway, Newburgh)
· Youth Mission Outreach will have volunteers from Bank of America and Marriott assist with organizing a newly opened thrift store in Poughkeepsie. (April 18)
· Zylofone Studios of Campbell Hall will have United Way AmeriCorps members assist with music class and cake decorating. (April 17)
For more information about volunteering opportunities, contact Melissa Clark at mclark@uwdor.org or call 845.471.1900, ext 3128 or Jazmin Awada at jawada@uwdor.org or call 845-471-1900, ext 3106.
