Week of service projects to help nonprofits in Denton County
Steven James / Staff Writer
Denton residents will have an opportunity to help local nonprofits by participating in United Way of Denton County’s Day of Action.
Day of Action is a national event that celebrates nonprofit organizations in the community. This is the sixth year United Way divisions around the U.S. are participating. However, this will be Denton County’s first.
For Day of Action, participating United Way divisions across the US helps non-profit organizations within their counties. People interested in volunteering can either register in groups or as individuals. Employees of the Target Distribution Center will also be offering help and resources.
Denton County’s Day of Action will begin June 16 to give individuals and teams time to work on their projects. The last day to work on projects is June 21, the official Day of Action. Service projects begin at 7 a.m. and end at noon.
From noon to 3 p.m. on June 21 there will be a volunteer rally at the Denton United Way office at 1314 Teasley Lane. Representatives from local nonprofit organizations will be there to talk about how people can get involved with community service. Live music and a Carter BloodCare drive will also be there.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star, CASA of Denton County and Giving HOPE, Inc. are a few of the nonprofits that are scheduled to partake in Day of Action. Most of them are accepting donations in the form of school supplies, hygiene products, backpacks and non-perishable food products.
Social media intern and Day of Action project manager Awo Eni brought the project to the attention of United Way of Denton County board members, leading to Denton County’s participation in this year’s event.
“The community is something that’s important to me, because I’m a part of it,” Eni said.
She also said that after the project ends, she would like to see more involvement in nonprofit organizations around Denton County.
“You shouldn’t just use all the resources of your community, you have to also give back,” she said. “This isn’t just an opportunity for you to come and just do a service project for one day. I want this to happen every year, and I want people to learn about long-term ways that they can benefit their community.”
United Way of Denton County president and CEO Gary Henderson said one of the reasons why many nonprofit organizations currently need help is because of the 2007 recession, which negatively affected funding for nonprofit organizations across the nation, including the ones in Denton County.
“It’s such a shot in the arm to nonprofits when we can help them secure the resources they need to help people here in Denton,” Henderson said.
He also said the lack of volunteers and resources is one of the main reasons why Denton County is just choosing to participate in Day of Action this year.
“It’s projects that are on the list of non-profits, but they don’t have the time or the resources to accomplish,” he said. “But, there’s also this aspect if you have ever worked in the nonprofit community, it’s refreshing, it’s uplifting, it’s rewarding to know that others are taking value in the work that your organization has done.”
Resource development intern Sam Tjahjono has been writing grants and applications to help raise funds and get necessary materials so that Day of Action can happen.
“The Day of Action is not just a once-a-year ordeal- it’s a mindset,” he said. “We hope that the Day of Action will inspire people to shift their attention away from the confines of their everyday lives and live outwardly, always prepared to give their peers in need the love and support they so desperately require.”
Feature Image: Resource development intern Sam Tjahjono, left, and social media intern/project manager Awo Eni send emails to non-profit organizations for Day of Action plans. Day of Action is June 21 and is hosted by United Way of Denton County. Photo by Steven James – Staff Writer
There are no comments at the moment, do you want to add one?
Write a comment