United Way Family Volunteer Fair Friday, June 21 at Dogwood Park Shelter

Local
nonprofits offer family-friendly volunteer opportunities from 1-4:00
p.m.

United Way of Greater Stark County’s 2013 Day of Action event features a Family Volunteer Fair on Friday, June 21 from 1-4:00 p.m. in Dogwood Park Shelter located at 241 Seventh St. NE in North Canton.  The free event is open to all families looking for volunteer opportunities. Games and prizes will be provided.

Children-friendly volunteer opportunities will be offered by a variety of local agencies and nonprofits including: Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, Aultman Wellness on Wheels WOW Van, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Catholic Charities Serving Stark and Portage, Community Hospice of Stark, Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio, Girls on the Run, Meals on Wheels of Stark & Wayne Counties, Red Cross Emergency Services, Red Cross Military Services, Stark County Humane Society, Stark Parks, The Stock Pile, United Way of Greater Stark County and more.

Each year, United Ways across the country LIVE UNITED and participate in a Day of Action on June 21.  On the longest day of the year, United Ways engage thousands of people nationwide around a common goal−to work together to advance the common good.

For ideas to volunteer on your own on Day of Action, please visit http://www.uwstark.org/day-action-2013.

Residents can also visit United Way of Greater Stark County’s Volunteer Resource Center year round to find volunteer opportunities in Stark County or to find volunteers for your organization. Go to http://www.uwstark.org and click on Volunteer.

United Way of Greater Stark County is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways by mobilizing thousands of people around a common goal: advancing the common good in Education, Family & Financial Stability and Health & Basic Needs. United Way believes these are the building blocks for a good life and that a quality education leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, a safe place to live and good health.

For more information about United Way visit www.uwstark.org. Headquarters are at 4825 Higbee Avenue NW, Suite 101, Canton, Ohio 44718. Dial (330) 491-0445 to reach the offices.

1. Collect art supplies for children in need   
2. Collect school supplies and book bags for children in need
3. Create a nature trail on school grounds
4. Create safe Halloween kits (flashlight, reflective bag, etc.)
5. Donate your favorite (healthy!) snack to give to children in need
6. Help teach a child to read
7. Make boo-boo bunnies for children to receive at a health clinic or at school
8. Plan a special event, outing or field trip for kids in a low-income preschool
9. Educate new parents on autism awareness and early signs
10. Make flashcards with letters and numbers for preschoolers to take home
11. Help low-income families register for kindergarten
12. Be a homework helper in an after-school program
13. Donate used computers to schools or community centers
14. Have your workplace partner with a school for a job shadow day
15. Mentor a young person to help them plan their future
16. Teach a class on diversity and tolerance at a local community center
17. Take high school students on a college tour
18. Teach photography, art, music or language to low-income students
19. Tutor an individual learning English as a second language
20. Help prepare students for the ACT/ SAT and OGT tests
21. Teach students proper study habits at a local community center
22. Help students fill out college applications
23. Help students apply for financial aid
24. Teach kids interviewing skills at a local community center
25. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister
26. Visit your local fire or police station with your children
27. Coach a child’s sports team and be a role model for sportsmanship
28. Invite local police officers to present a drug awareness or safety program
29. Learn to be a peer counselor
30. Make substance abuse awareness posters and hang in community centers
31. Play basketball or other sports with children in need
32. Re-paint or rebuild playground equipment
33. Repair and repaint old bicycles for inner-city children
34. Teach a dance class in an after school program
35. Educate families at community centers about early signs of drug abuse
36. Decorate bags and fill them with hygiene products for people entering a shelter
37. Gather clothing to donate to a local shelter
38. Get together with some friends to buy holiday presents for a family at a shelter
39. Grow a vegetable garden and donate some of the food to a shelter
40. Help cook and serve a meal at a homeless shelter
41. Hold a teddy bear drive for foster children, fire victims, etc.
42. Make pillows, cards, games or stuffed toys for children in foster care
43. Organize a public issues forum for your neighborhood
44. Contact government officials about protecting children from abuse and neglect
45. Work with families on parenting skills at a local community center or pre-school
46. Provide tips for stress management at a community center
47. Talk with low-income parents about effective communication skills
48. Help someone develop a new resume or prepare for an interview
49. Conduct mock interviews with economically disadvantaged individuals
50. Work with a nonprofit organization to help build a home
51. Hold a clothing drive at work for interview attire and donate to a local agency
52. Teach at an adult literacy center
53. Teach computer or other job-related skills
54. Teach budgeting skills to low-income working families
55. Volunteer to teach students basic checking skills
56. Teach job related skills at a community center
57. Teach basic budgeting skills to low-income families
58. Create disaster kits for your home in the event of an emergency
59. Help a nonprofit with their disaster preparedness plan
60. Organize a canned food drive and donate it to a food pantry
61. Help families develop emergency evacuation plans
62. Get CPR and First Aid certification
63. Donate blood
64. Help low-income families create disaster kits for their homes
65. Talk to children about tornado safety
66. Help low-income families complete a home fire safety checklist
67. Collect smoke detectors and batteries for low-income families
68. Deliver meals to homebound individuals
69. Go for a walk with a senior citizen in your community
70. Have a resident talent show or musical program for a nursing home
71. Help seniors make life story scrapbooks
72. Improve safety at the homes of low-income, isolated seniors
73. Lead a craft project with children that will help elderly in a nursing home
74. Read books or the newspaper on tape for visually impaired people
75. Set up a buddy system for children with special needs in your community
76. Give manicures and pedicure to residents at a nursing home
77. Take a wheel-chair bound person for a weekly walk
78. Organize a youth group to take disabled teenagers on an outing
79. Arrange transportation for a senior to do errands and shopping
80. Create a campaign to encourage biking or walking
81. Donate your hair for children with cancer or other medical conditions
82. Get an annual physical and encourage other family members to do the same
83. Hold a drive to collect sunscreen for children
84. Kick off a fitness challenge in your community
85. Teach a healthy cooking class for low-income families
86. Organize a walking or running club
87. Help low-income families put together a wellness plan
88. Put on a health fair for your neighborhood
89. Start a healthy-recipe exchange with a group of friends
90. Teach children about diet and exercise to prevent chronic illness