Summer kicked off this week, and while many of us are probably thinking about warm weather and vacations, there are several volunteer opportunities right now that could benefit from your time and effort.
Last month, we kicked off a season of volunteerism with our Day of Caring, which is one day in which community members join together to volunteer at different projects throughout Monongalia and Preston
counties.
This year, 220 volunteers signed up and served at 24 different project locations across both counties. Together, they put in $22,000 worth of donated time that day. These volunteers worked on projects such as finishing the Born Learning Trail at Krepps Park, cleaning up and prepping The Shack for summer programming, building raised beds for a greenhouse project in Westover, clearing for a new trail at Coopers Rock, working on various projects in Arthurdale, and more.
Many businesses and corporations sent out volunteers during Day of Caring to take part in the community efforts. It’s always a great way to get people interested in volunteering and help folks understand more about the United Way and its funded partners and programs.
Throughout the summer, and even into the fall, United Way still needs volunteers for several projects and programs.
People are always needed to help with the Preston Mobile Food Pantries, which are held once a month at the Craig Civic Center in Kingwood. The next mobile pantries will be held on July 12 and Aug. 9. Volunteers need to arrive at about 9 a.m. and help unload the Mountaineer Food Bank truck when it arrives. Those volunteers help organize and pack the food boxes, and then load them into cars. The event is open from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or until the food runs out.
The Preston Mobile Food Pantry is the largest of its kind in the state, serving about 800 vehicles and 2,000 people each month. To volunteer for the mobile pantry, email Janette Lewis at janette@unitedwaympc.org or call her at 304-322-2063.
Volunteers are also needed on a regular basis to help out with the United Way’s Helpful Harvest Food Program and greenhouse work. Helpful Harvest gets food into the hands of those who need it most by providing food pantries and programs in the area with a plethora of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products, as well as nonperishable food items.
Helpful Harvest is run out of Hazel’s House of Hope and also at Preston County Workshop. Volunteers are often needed to help unload and sort shipments of food.
The Helpful Harvest program also needs folks to work in the greenhouse near the river in Westover. Microgreens, spring mix and micro herbs are grown in the greenhouse and then harvested and sold to local restaurants to help support Helpful Harvest. Volunteers are always needed to help tend to the plants.
If you want to volunteer to help as a greenhouse assistant, visit VolunteerMPC.org and click on “Helpful Harvest Food Program.”
These are just a few of the volunteer opportunities available in our area. So, if you have some extra time this summer and would like to give back to your community in a fun and rewarding way, consider volunteering for the United Way or one of its funded partners. Visit VolunteerMPC.org to check out all the opportunities.
AMANDA POSEY is the director of marketing and communications for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. She can be reached at amanda@unitedwaympc.org.
