United Way Suncoast Day of Caring Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Thousands of Volunteers and Nearly 200 Projects

On Thursday, Oct. 11, more than 2,300 volunteers will join forces to tackle nearly 200 projects helping local social service agencies in need. From painting to gardening, from refinishing furniture to cleaning windows, the volunteers will help with projects that the agencies might not otherwise be able to do.

This year, United Way Suncoast celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Day of Caring. Many local companies have supported their community over the years by sending teams of employees to volunteer for the day. More than 100 companies signed up this year to help with projects in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.

The United Way Sarasota Area office will hold a special kickoff celebration held to get the day started and volunteers excited. The celebration will be October 11 at 8 a.m. at the Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota.

"Day of Caring is a powerful and tangible way to see and support the year-round efforts of our agency partners" said Diana Baker, President and CEO of United Way Suncoast. "We are proud to be able to pull together so many in our community that are willing to help those in need."

The media is invited to these photo and interview opportunities from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday:

Hillsborough County Locations:

Sulphur Springs Resource Center, 8412 N. 12th St., Tampa

 United Way Bridges and Women’s Leadership Council volunteers will assist those in need of employment by reviewing resumes, conducting mock interviews and assisting in the selection of appropriate business attire from the donated clothing area.

Metropolitan Area YMCA, Layla’s House, 1506 E. Eskimo St., Tampa

Tampa Bay Lightning and U.S. Coast Guard volunteers will spruce up Layla’s House by gardening, cleaning and picking up the playground.

Pinellas County Locations:

Happy Worker’s Children’s Center (920 19^th Street South, St. Petersburg)

Valpak employees will help with painting, landscaping, and small woodwork projects.

Willa Carson Health Resource Center, 1108 Martin Luther King Ave., Clearwater

City of Clearwater employees will tackle projects including painting, landscaping, general repair and cleaning.

Sarasota County Locations:

 Senior Friendship Center, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota

 Kickoff celebration to take place at 8 a.m. followed by various projects at the center.

Children’s First, 1723 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota

Tampa Bay Lightning and FCCI Insurance Group volunteers will see the world through the eyes of a child by partaking in various learning and relationship building activities in classrooms.

 

The Salvation Army, 1400 10th St., Sarasota

Northern Trust volunteers will help with painting, landscaping and cleaning.

 

 

United Way Suncoast proactively develops, enhances, and implements programs and tools that help people in underserved communities achieve their academic and financial potential. By helping to find the solutions to regional issues – from increasing literacy rates to lowering poverty levels – we are changing the story in our community, one person at a time, from cradle to career.

Contact: Niki Paksoy, Director of Marketing and Creative Services: 813-274-0953; cell 813-505-5998; email, npaksoy@uwsuncoast.org.