United Way Day of Caring impacts local agencies
Swift Current United Way agencies took advantage of some generous volunteer manpower to complete a series of previously unattainable projects during the United Way’s Day of Caring Week.
The Day of Caring matched businesses and their volunteer manpower with a number of United Way agencies in tackling projects the agencies traditionally can not complete because of a lack of helping hands and time to complete the tasks.
“A lot of these projects are things that are necessities, but they don’t have the time and haven’t gotten around to getting it done. Some people might look at it and think it’s a little project, but it really is a huge impact on these agencies,” admitted Swift Current United Way Executive Director Stacey Schwartz.
During the week of June 2 to 6 volunteers helped with projects including painting, yard clean up and beautification, tree pruning, and evening cleaning toys at the Family Resource Centre.
“There were a lot of outdoor yard work projects,” Schwartz said. “Southwest Homes, all of their projects are more cleaning up the yards at the houses, things that they don’t have time to do.”
Agencies receiving sup- port included Canadian Mental Health Association - Swift Current Branch, Family Resource Center/Bright Beginnings, Southwest Homes, Southwest Crisis Services and the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, while businesses lending a hand during the week were Pioneer Coop, WW Smith, Stark & Marsh, Golden West Radio, RBC, City of Swift Current, Pharmasave and BMO.
In all, there were a total of 15 projects, and all were filled thanks to additional business support for the volunteer projects. It all made for an exciting week for the United Way. “Especially since all the projects were filled this year. They’re ecstatic about that because last year there were some that we had to tell ‘sorry, we never could get this filled for you.’”
Well over 60 volunteers were out to complete their projects thanks to business support.
“We definitely want to make sure that we’re giving these businesses a lot of recognition,” she said. “They’re paying their staff to not be at work but to be volunteering with these agencies. So I think it says a lot about those businesses and their community involvement and wanting to give back.
“Definitely they deserve a lot of recognition in this because without them we wouldn’t be able to do these projects.”