In a downward moving economy, it is a breath of fresh air– that communities are putting together campaigns to “spruce up” neighborhoods while touching the lives of hundreds through volunteering their time.
The United Way of Lancaster County is kicking off their annual campaign on Saturday September 12th with the Day of Caring.
This United Way has the highest per-capita participation in the country. Over 3,000 participants took part in the annual campaign to clean up the county, projects included waterway cleanup, painting, carpentry, cleaning houses for the elderly, playing or reading to children, landscaping and clerical work.
Millersville University will be sending a record 440 students this year, including faculty and peer mentors to the United Way’s Day of Caring, in comparison to last years 325.
Exploratory honors, and ethnic studies freshmen will be among the 440 participants. Will be assigned to agencies that are closely linked to their learning communities. An example of a learning communities class is “Home and Homelessness” where the class volunteers at a half-way house for women and children for their Day of Caring activity.
Following a greeting in the Student Memorial Center on September 12th at 8 a.m., the Day of Caring participants will board buses that will take them to various parts of Lancaster city. The projects for the day are designed to run from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. They will then join approximately 3,000 Day of Caring participants for a luncheon at McCaskey East High School in which PSECU is the sponsor of this event. The luncheon is an opportunity for freshmen to see that they are a part of a much larger community of volunteers.
Focus groups have shown that the Day of Caring is one of the most positive events in a freshmen’s first semester. It is a unique opportunity to bond with faculty members through community service.
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