United Way’s Day of Action Helps Local Nonprofits in Greater Danbury Area

Nearly 470 volunteers from 23 companies will complete nearly 40 projects for local nonprofit agencies throughout greater Danbury and greater New Milford including Ability Beyond, Amos House, New Pond Farm, Jericho Partnership and more

United Way of Western Connecticut (UWWC) is thrilled to announce that nearly 470 volunteers from 23 local businesses and corporations will demonstrate their commitment to volunteerism and community support by taking part in UWWC’s Annual Day of Action. Nearly 40 projects will be completed to benefit more than 20 nonprofit agencies throughout greater Danbury and greater New Milford on Thursday, June 2nd.

“Volunteers are the foundation of every successful organization and every thriving community,” said Kim Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut.  “We are grateful to be surrounded by so many socially responsible companies who truly value volunteerism and who encourage their employees to dedicate a workday to volunteering. It is because of their leadership and commitment to our community that so much important work is done and so many lives are changed.”

In addition to being a wonderful day of giving back for the many volunteers participating, Day of Action also provides a financial benefit to the nonprofits hosting the projects. These projects can potentially save the organizations thousands of dollars in costly, but necessary maintenance projects, enabling valuable and limited resources to be used for direct services to the organizations’ clients.

All new this year, UWWC is leading a community-wide project in support of early grade literacy named Camp Wannaread. More than one hundred volunteers will be gathering at the Danbury Police Athletic League Center to build literacy kits filled with donated books and reading supplies. More than 600 books were collected ahead of time from numerous book drives initiated at our corporate partners. The goal is to distribute 300 literacy kits to area second grade students at Park Avenue School and Pembroke Elementary School in Danbury and Hill and Plain Elementary School in New Milford. This effort was put in place to help combat the summer reading loss that occurs over summer break which can set some students back three months academically.

In addition, area companies have signed up for projects such as reading to children, planting vegetable and butterfly gardens, cleaning up playgrounds, landscaping, and painting. In addition to the volunteer efforts, local businesses have donated materials and supplies in support of Day of Action projects. According to The Independent Sector’s 2016 National Volunteer Service formula, the established benchmark for volunteer service value, this one day of volunteering represents more than $66,000 in economic value to the community.

 

Additional Examples of Day of Action Projects:

 

Educational Projects to Benefit Area Preschool Children

Volunteers from Praxair will spend the day at the Regional YMCA Children’s Center in Bethel assisting with various projects. Volunteers will tend to their vegetable gardens which provide valuable education to the students related to healthy eating habits. In addition, there will be an opportunity for the volunteers to read books and share their love of reading with the YMCA preschool children. In New Milford, volunteers from Webster Bank will conduct a reading workshop with young children at The New Milford Children’s Center.

 

Nearly 90 Volunteers from Seven Companies will Support  Six New Milford Area Agencies

Employees from Cartus, Duracell, Kimberly-Clark, People’s United Bank, Trident, US Bank and Webster Bank will complete various projects throughout the Town of New Milford from prepping for summer camp at Pratt Nature Center, to working with seniors at the New Milford Senior Center, to landscaping at Harrybrooke Park and Sullivan Farm.

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Submitted by Danbury, CT

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