Day of Caring

Collage of Day of Caring photos

Day of Caring: Friday, September 6; Friday, September 13; & Saturday, September 14, 2024


What is Day of Caring? 

Day of Caring is a day where hundreds of volunteers come together to complete a day of service in Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. Teams, small and large, work together on a wide variety of service projects across the Lakeshore that can include improvements to area parks, non-profit organizations, veteran homes, and more!

 

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Oceana County Mobile Food Pantry Volunteers

Register to Volunteer

Individuals, families, teams, and corporate teams are encouraged to participate! Join hundreds of volunteers in Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. Registration includes food and water for all volunteers, and United Way of the Lakeshore will take care of all materials, supplies, and project logistics. If you would like to register a team/corporate team but do not yet have details of who will be volunteering on the day of, please contact Sara directly at sara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or by phone at 231-332-4010.

Use Tabs to Navigate County Details: 

Join Us Friday, September 6th!

Kickoff Location: United Way of the Lakeshore - 31 E. Clay Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442

Schedule for the Day: 

8:00 AM - Registration Check-In & Breakfast Begins

8:30 AM - Celebration Kickoff - Community stretch, a word from our sponsors, and music. 

9:00 AM - Depart for team sites.

Between 12:00 & 1:00 PM - Lunches delivered on-site to your volunteer locations. 

3:30 PM or 5:00 PM: A majority of the projects will close at 3:30 PM. Some teams are required to volunteer due to employer policies. If your team needs an end of day project, please contact our office at (231) 332-4010.

Join Us Friday, September 13th!

Individuals, families, teams, and corporate teams are encouraged to participate! If you would like to register a team/corporate team but do not yet have details of who will be volunteering on the day of, please contact Sara directly at sara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or by phone at 231-332-4010.

What do Volunteers Need?

Nothing but a great attitude and willingness to serve! United Way of the Lakeshore will provide all materials, food, and water for project sites.

  • Tools: Materials & tools are provided by United Way of the Lakeshore. However, if a volunteer prefers to use their own equipment for better quality, that is okay!
  • An Extra Cooler: There will be a cooler, ice, and water station during registration. Each team will have the opportunity to grab what they need for their site. Some work teams may choose to go the extra mile and provide their teams an extra cooler with other beverages besides water (ex: Gatorade).

Volunteer Sites:

Sites will be determined and provided to individual volunteers and teams in advance. If an individual does not know their exact site location, a master copy of the volunteer assignments and maps will be available at registration. Each project site will have an assigned team lead to help direct volunteers, answer questions, etc., and their name & contact information will be given to you at registration.

Clothing:

  • Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes.
  • Wear comfortable clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. We do NOT require jeans or long pants. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions and your preference.
  • When using power tools, volunteers are asked to wear safety glasses (provided).
  • Gloves - Please plan to bring your own work/garden gloves if possible. United Way of the Lakeshore will have some to provide, but the quantity will be limited.
  • T-Shirts - Matching outfits at Day of Caring is not mandatory but can promote a sense of togetherness. Looking like a team can help add a sense of cohesiveness to your event and promote feelings of togetherness.

Other Logistics:

Transportation:

  • Each volunteer is responsible for their own transportation from the headquarters to their individual sites. Some teams do carpool.
  • Parking on site: Most parking will be on the street near each project location.

Restroom:

  • Portable restrooms will be located at each site.

Refreshments:

Projects:

  • Veteran Home Project (White Cloud): Volunteer to assist with landscaping and minor outdoor home repairs at a home in White Cloud. This project will benefit a local veteran who needs help with his yard and home. Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to participate!
  • Camp Henry (Newaygo): Volunteer for a variety of projects at Camp Henry. Projects include landscaping, painting, and minor maintenance. Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to participate!

Join Us on Saturday, September 14th for a Mobile Food Pantry sponsored by Shelby State Bank!

Saturday, September 14th @ 2:00 PM
Location: Shelby State Bank | 242 North Michigan Avenue, Shelby, MI 49459

Details coming soon for Friday, September 6th projects!

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:

Cannon Muskegon Logo

Ready to Sponsor?

Contact Sara Sherwood at sara@unitedwaylakeshore.org or by phone at 231-332-4010.