United Way Kicks Off Annual Campaign with Day of Caring

by Pamela Holstein-Wallace

With the United Way will kick off its annual campaign with the Day of Caring in the Eastern Panhandle set for Tuesday, September 13th. Organizers are encouraging local businesses and residents to rally in support of the community-wide event. This year’s United Way Day of Caring marks the 11th year anniversary for Berkeley and Morgan Counties and the 10th year for Jefferson County. The Day of Caring is an annual United Way event matching teams of volunteers from major local employers as well as individuals wanting to help with needed volunteer projects of United Way member agencies. “The Day of Caring is a great way for the community to come together”, said Dave Irvin, United Way Day of Caring chairperson for Jefferson County. “It’s just another example of how the United Way serves as more than just a fundraiser…it is a community leader!” Organizers say the United Way Day of Caring is an opportunity to get donors into the agencies they help fund. “These organizations are here in our community changing the lives of people everyday”, Irvin said. “The Day of Caring is a great way to see first hand some of the real needs people have in our community, meet the people providing these services, and see how United Way dollars are spent.”

According to Berkeley/Morgan event chair Joanne Wadsworth; this year’s United Way Day of Caring will involve hundreds of volunteers in the Eastern Panhandle donating one day of their time to complete a host of projects for many of the United Way member agencies. “In addition to the usual ‘fix-up’ types of projects such as painting and cleaning, a number of other projects are being planned this year in support of our agencies,” Wadsworth said.

The official kick-off for the United Way Day of Caring in Berkeley and Morgan Counties will be held at 7:30 am at War Memorial Park with a continental breakfast provided by City Hospital. In Jefferson County, two kick-off breakfasts will be held; one at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown at 7:30am and another kickoff breakfast at 7:30am held at Citizen’s Fire Company in Charles Town. Following the kickoff breakfasts, volunteers will proceed to the various project sites. Participants will gather back at War Memorial Park in Berkeley County for a wrap-up dinner provided by Texas Steakhouse and Jefferson County volunteers will wrap up at the Charles Town Races & Slots for dinner.

For more information on the Day of Caring or to volunteer on Tuesday, September 13th, contact the Volunteer Center of the Eastern Panhandle at 304-725-8972.

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