Published: September 18, 2009 08:43 am      

United Way fifth annual Day of Caring event set for Oct. 3

United Way of Johnson County will have its fifth annual “Day of Caring” on Oct. 3.

Day of Caring is an event where groups of volunteers donate their time for one Saturday morning in an effort to make life better for people in our community.

Businesses and organizations are invited to participate in Day of Caring by allowing their employees and members to volunteer part of a day for a community service project.

By allowing employees and members to form a volunteer team, the business or organization will become part of a community effort hat brings together volunteers and resources to meet needs.

This event also provides an opportunity to showcase the business or organization’s role in community.

“Volunteers will gather at the United Way of Johnson County parking lot, 210 Featherston in Cleburne at 8 a.m. for a rally,” said Tara Roden, one of the project coordinators for the day. “We will have donuts, juice and coffee available. Volunteers will be given an explanation of Day of Caring and the importance of giving back to our community through service. Volunteers will register and sign waivers and turn in to agency staff. If previously registered volunteers will need to check-in with the organization at which they plan to volunteer. At 8:30 a.m. all volunteers will leave the United Way and report to the organization of their choice, and work on projects until noon on that day.”

Projects for 2009 are:

zx Christmas in Action — Construct two wheelchair ramps and paint exterior of Johnson County Christian Lodge

zx American Red Cross — Presentation to volunteers regarding disaster preparedness and prevention, CPR, and becoming a Red Cross disaster volunteer

zx Family Crisis Center — Organize donation shed, stain deck, clean playground and parking area

zx Meals-on-Wheels — Pick up pet food from Burleson and Cleburne Animal Shelters and deliver pet food items to elderly and disabled recipients of MOW in Cleburne, Burleson, Joshua, Godley, Alvarado and Venus

zx Camp Fire — Prepare personal care bags — toothbrushes, combs, razors, etc. — for patients in the veterans hospital

zx Operation Blessing — Replace ballasts in lights in food pantry room

zx Harvest House — Paint interior reception area and bathroom

zx East Cleburne Community Center — Build two stepstools, two benches, two speaker podiums, and a picnic table

zx Community Opportunities — Landscape front flower bed of facility

zx CASA of Johnson County — Clean windows, paint picnic table, repair and paint flower box

zx UW of Johnson County — paint office and kitchen area

zx Children’s Advocacy Center — Create landscaped serenity garden area for children, plant trees, shrubs, flowers and create walking path

zx Godley Middle School — NJHS students will paint bleachers and perform maintenance and clean up at the middle school football field.

“We strongly urge participation in this national event as we affirm the power of the American spirit to make a difference,” said Jamie Dugger, Roden’s co-coordinator.

Volunteer team registration forms, release waivers and a list of projects may be obtained by contacting Dianne Packwood, executive director, United Way of Johnson County, 210 Featherston St. in Cleburne, or by calling 817-645-9153.

Each volunteer, or volunteer’s parent or guardian if under 18, must sign a waiver before participating in agency projects.

For information or questions, call Roden at 817-202-7459 or Dugger at 817-313-5094, e-mail: dianne@uwjc.com.