Multiple spots remain open for people who wish to volunteer to help nonprofits spruce up during the annual United Way Days of Caring.
United Way of Central Missouri's annual event brings together community-minded individuals and the nonprofits serving Central Missouri.
Through Days of Caring, volunteers get rare opportunities to see United Way partners up close, and provide labor to accomplish tasks the agencies can't perform for themselves.
The United Way sees volunteerism as a critical component to the work it does, connecting selfless people with organizations that can use their help, according to Ann Bax, president of the local United Way.
Days of Caring is to be held Sept. 9 and 10.
To sign up to volunteer, or to list a volunteer opportunity, go to the United Way Volunteer Connection (UWVC). Through the UWVC, pre-approved community partners of the United Way may post volunteer opportunities. Individuals or teams may sign up for the opportunities that fit their specified interests and availability.
In order to get an organization pre-approved to post volunteer opportunities, people must call the United Way office at 573-636-4100 and speak to operations specialist Tabatha Brightwell.
More than 130 people had signed up to volunteer for Days of Caring as of Monday. But, that's far short of how many have participated in the past, Bax said. The event has brought out more than 300 people during previous years.
The continuing pandemic plays a significant role in the challenge of putting people together, she said.
People who look at the tasks that need attention will notice that a lot of the work this year will revolve around clearing yards, pulling weeds, power washing sidewalks, cleaning windows and doing other tasks that allow volunteers to remain outside.
"We talked long and hard with our agencies: Were they comfortable having Days of Caring?" Bax said. "(Many said they) were not comfortable having people come in, but were good about having people outside. Our agencies were creative and understanding."
For example, she said, Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson City has a few tasks that need to be done inside, such as painting. That nonprofit set up its volunteer opportunities in the morning, before students arrive. Things that need to be done outside can wait until the afternoon.
Bax said she hopes the number of volunteers climbs well over 200. But, there again, the pandemic has an effect.
Some of the businesses with employees who support the United Way - even businesses that have been very involved in the past - are uncertain about sending employees out in group settings.
"We knew that was going to impact our participation rate. We have our fingers crossed," she said.
Pacesetters - 31 businesses and agencies that typically raise about half the United Way's annual fundraising goal through activities during July and August - are wrapping up their campaigns over the next couple of weeks.
As part of those campaigns, pacesetters are hosting events for employees.
Central Bank held a barbecue on Tuesday. Jefferson Bank was to host a lunch and movie event today. Jefferson City will host a lunch event Thursday; a corn hole tournament is planned.
On Sept. 8, one day before Days of Caring, United Way will hold its annual campaign launch for other businesses in the area.
The event is to begin at 11:30 a.m., at Capital Bluffs Event Center, 1616 Oil Well Road.
"Phase one of our campaign - pacesetters are wrapping up next week," Bax said. "We will thank them for their efforts and pass the baton to the rest of the community, in the community campaign."
The community may have gotten a little bit of a head start this year, she continued. The United Way campaign leadership team, made up of 42 people, decided to deliver donation packets prior to the luncheon this year. (They are normally dispersed at the luncheon.)
The leadership team held a competition amongst themselves, in which members received $1,000 in Monopoly money for delivering packets the first week after their meeting. They were to get $500 of Monopoly money for each packet delivered the following week, $250 for each the week after that and $100 for each packet after that.
And their progress is being tracked using pawn mascots on a board.
"It was fun to see how that little team challenge (motivated the volunteers)," Bax said. (Sixty- six to 70 percent of the packets have been delivered."
So several businesses who aren't pacesetters have already held rallies, she added.
"We're seeing challenges from COVID-19," she said. "Maybe this will be a little bit of a different campaign. I'm always so proud of our community. And grateful."