Day of Caring Volunteers, Projects Needed

Greater Ottawa County United Way has set Thursday September 20, 2012 as the date for the annual, county-wide Day of Caring; and Shannon Morton, United Way Director of Volunteerism, is seeking projects in need of volunteers and volunteers eager to complete projects on that day.

United Way’s Day of Caring has been a tradition for 11 years in Ottawa County. On this one day, hundreds of volunteers take to the streets to complete projects at agencies, homes, schools, parks, and local landmarks. On Day of Caring 2011, more than 800 volunteers from local businesses, schools, and organizations completed 65 projects across the county.

Examples of past projects include helping senior citizens and people with disabilities with yard and home maintenance, reading to children, organizing a food pantry, brightening up a nonprofit organization’s offices with a fresh coat of paint, or building a community playground. While some projects can take most of the day, many can be completed in a half day, either morning or afternoon.  In the photo here, volunteers from Hillshire Brands (formerly Sara Lee Foods) of Zeeland filled a truck full of trash during Day of Caring 2011 while cleaning up the area that was to become a new Ottawa County Park called Grand River Ravines.

Morton encourages any citizen or organization with a project that needs to be done to contact her at (616) 396-7811 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it as soon as possible. Projects can range in size from something that five people can do to something that 20 people can complete in from four to eight hours.

Said Morton, “No project is too big or too small. Without projects, work can’t be done; and without our incredible volunteers, lives aren’t able to be changed for the better.” Companies, organizations—or even groups of individuals-- that would like to volunteer as a team for Day of Caring are also encouraged to contact Morton soon.

Volunteers are rewarded with a barbeque lunch, donated and served by A.D. Bos Vending Services, Inc., of Holland, at NASCAR RV Resort on US-31 just south of M45. In addition to A.D. Bos, generous donations from Hillshire Brands (formerly Sara Lee Foods) and NASCAR RV Resort help to provide this festive community event.

September 20 also marks the official kick-off for Greater Ottawa County United Way’s Annual Community Campaign, which is being co-chaired by Budd and Melinda Brink of Spring Lake. The Brinks will be on hand to make the campaign kickoff announcement at the volunteer lunch that day.

For more information on how to give, advocate, and volunteer to advance the common good in Ottawa County, visit www.ottawaunitedway.org.