United Way Suncoast works to convene outreach efforts for business and civic groups and individuals throughout the year, but its volunteer collaborations culminate during April.
This year, we invited the community to celebrate our 31st Annual Week of Caring from April 16-22 as part of Global Volunteer Month. Global Volunteer Month celebrates the power of people who tackle society’s greatest challenges, and build stronger, more vibrant communities through volunteerism and everyday actions.
Dozens of nonprofits throughout our region sought out volunteers to support their meaningful projects. Week of Caring aligned those opportunities with United Way Suncoast’s focus areas: education, financial stability and support services. We welcomed corporate employees, civic groups and interested individuals to participate in this impactful community week of service through either in-person, virtual, or remote opportunities.
Highlights included a volunteer crew from Lockheed Martin engaging at The Arc Tampa Bay’s Tarpon Springs facility. Lockheed’s Karen Ferreri again led the effort and The Arc affectionately refers to the annual gathering as the “Day of Karen.”
Volunteers from Regions Bank helped create a beautiful butterfly garden for Children’s First in Sarasota. Another Regions group helped spruce up an Emergency Safe Shelter at Hope Family Services in Bradenton.
In St. Petersburg, the St. Pete Housing Authority created summer literacy kits for families in their Learn ‘n Play program.
Over in Tampa, GTE Financial employees came out in full force to help at MacDonald Training Center, while volunteers from Bausch & Lomb and Federated Insurance stepped up at Junior Achievement Tampa Bay.
Even our leadership societies got in on the effort, creating kits for the Campbell Park Network for Early Learning. Not to be outdone, United Way Suncoast board members met up at the Sulphur Springs Resource Center to create their own collection of learning kits.
In the end, United Way Suncoast guided more than 300 volunteers in support of 55 events across our five-county footprint. The week provided a perfect opportunity to showcase to the community how we mobilize resources during Week of Caring and throughout the year.
