Sedalia-Pettis County United Way Day of Caring October 18

The Sedalia-Pettis County United Way will hold its second annual Day of Caring on Oct. 22, 2016.  The inaugural event in 2015 experienced 155 volunteers completing 16 projects that ranged from the construction of a wheelchair ramp, hauling away junk, yard work to painting.

For the second annual event, the goal is to complete a minimum of 20 projects. Pettis County communities will come together to promote neighbor’s helping neighbors. An addition to the second annual Day of Caring is a partnership with the American Red Cross to install smoke detectors in rural Pettis County.

Residents in or near Green Ridge, Smithton, Northwest and La Monte are encouraged to sign up at your local school to have a smoke detector installed. ARC and Sedalia Pettis County United Way will mobilize teams to be paired with communities for the installation of the smoke detectors on Oct. 22, 2016.

United Way World Wide has encouraged local United Way's to hold Day's of Caring for several decades. This program is designed as another option to help people contribute in ways other than financially, Harrison said. “The Day of Caring is a service to Pettis County that does not require United Way funds to be a success. What allows this program to be successful is the mobilization of volunteers to help their neighbors, which in turn, contributes to advancing the common good”, stated Janet Bice, SPCUW Day of Caring chair.

In preparation for this day, the SPCUW is accepting project and team applications until July 8, 2016.

Team Application:  SPCUW seeking teams to pair with submitted projects. Each team will have a "team leader" who will lead their team for the completion of the project. Team leaders will select their project on July 21, 2016 during a team leader meeting.

Project Applications:  The projects may benefit a single parent family, veteran, disabled, an elderly individual, etc. who may need a little assistance with the completion of a one day project such as painting, yardwork, construction of a ramp, hauling away junk, etc.

Executive Director Staci Harrison stated that the inaugural event was an amazing event to witness and she is looking forward to the accomplishments on Oct. 22, 2016 which is also that National Make a Difference Day.

Email or call Harrison to request a team or project application at (660) 826-2980 or spcuwsedalia@gmail.com.  An application can also be download on spcuw.org under “Give Back.”

The Day of Caring committee is also seeking sponsors to help with hospitality items such as food and beverage for the volunteers, tools and material that will be used to accomplish the selected projects.