MUSKEGON, MI — An annual volunteer event that typically connects hundreds of volunteers with service projects across the Muskegon area will look a bit different during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 28th annual Day of Caring event, hosted by the United Way of the Lakeshore, will instead be a month of service, with several volunteer opportunities held outside, commencing on Friday, Sept. 11. Throughout that morning, volunteers will visit veterans' cemeteries throughout Muskegon County to clean up gravesites and plant flags.
Other volunteer days throughout September will allow volunteers to give back to the Muskegon community in a variety of ways, said Christine Robere, president of the United Way of the Lakeshore.
“We kick off the campaign with a Day of Caring, to remind people of the importance of giving back, and how critical it is to be a volunteer in the community,” she told MLive.
Two other such events are planned for later in the month in Oceana and Newaygo counties, she added.
Throughout the rest of September, there will be several other opportunities to volunteer, including repairing a ramp at Step Up’s men’s home, a transitional home for young people aging out of foster care; landscaping and cleanup outside of Every Woman’s Place, a domestic violence organization; and a lake cleanup day on Sept. 26 with the Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership.
The Oceana Day of Caring will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, and the Newaygo Day of Caring will take place on Sept. 25.
Volunteers will be organized into small teams to maintain social distancing, with staggered, shorter work shifts, instead of one long workday for everyone.
“Usually we have over 500 people for the Day of Caring,” Robere said. “We couldn’t have them all on one day, so we gave the option to do some other projects (and) kind of spaced them out.”
United Way of the Lakeshore works as a kind of connector between people in need and agencies and nonprofits. The need has been great throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Robere said, both on the part of individuals, who have lost work or faced health challenges, and organizations who have lost fundraising opportunities and revenue streams.
The organization has raised $335,000 since April to support COVID-19 response efforts, she said.
“It’s been an interesting year for the nonprofit sector to try to meet the needs of our community as best we can,” she said. “But one thing I’m certain of is, this community bands together when times are tough.”
Read more on MLive:
‘Spring cleaning’ of Muskegon Lake now scheduled for later in September
Tri-Cities YMCA in Grand Haven to reopen after six month closure
Muskegon nonprofit helping people pay their rent amid pandemic
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September 11, 2020 at 03:46AM
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