We are often provided the opportunity in life to make a difference in somebody’s life, but the crew at United Way of Southwest Michigan is asking folks to step up and “Rake-A-Difference,” in a unique twist on things during their 7th Annual Day of Action for Seniors, when you can help get elder neighbors in the community ready for another Michigan winter.
United Way of Southwest Michigan is looking for volunteers on November 9, 2017 to “rake-a-difference” and help local senior citizens winterize their homes by raking leaves and cleaning gutters during that 7th Annual Day of Action.
Anna Murphy is President of United Way of Southwest Michigan and she knows only too well, that, “It’s very tough for many people in our community to winterize their homes, and this gives us one day to make a big difference.” She has seen the need grow year after year in Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Volunteers have the opportunity to help out in their local community, and can volunteer for a half-day or a full-day. Volunteers who work full days will receive a Pizza Hut lunch voucher, and all volunteers will receive a United Way t-shirt for participating. United Way is asking volunteers to bring rakes, work gloves, leaf blowers, and ladders, if available. United Way will supply leaf bags and other necessities to help get the work done. Many local companies are using the opportunity as a team-building, fun-day, camaraderie event.
All services to the seniors are free of charge and on a first-come, first-served basis for senior citizens 60 and over who are physically unable or cannot afford to hire these types of services. United Way hopes to serve more than 200 seniors this year, but that number is also highly dependent on the number of volunteers who are successfully recruited, so they’re asking for your help.
As Volunteer Engagement Manager Julee Laurent at United Way will tell you, “We receive so much support for this event. It’s great to see the local businesses that donate supplies and other businesses that send teams of volunteers to help out. We love seeing the community come together to help.”
An additional “Student” Day of Action for Seniors will take place on Saturday, November 11th from 8am until noon.
To get involved, volunteers and seniors can sign up online by clicking the link below:
http://www.uwsm.org/dayofactionforseniors
Volunteers and seniors have until October 19th to sign up. Seniors can also call (269) 982-1700 ext. 1136 to sign up or request more information.
Major Sponsors for the 7th Annual United Way Day of Action for Seniors include the French Paper Company and the McLoughlin Family Foundation. Other Sponsors helping to assure success in the venture include Lindberg/MPH…Chemical Bank…Vail Rubber Works…Niles Precision Co….and, Modineer Company.
United Way of Southwest Michigan fights for the Health, Education, and Financial Stability of every person in every community. They do this by Living United. By forging unlikely partnerships. By finding new solutions to old problems. And by mobilizing the best resources. To join the fight, visit www.uwsm.org.
