Volunteer

The United Way of Meriden and Wallingford makes volunteering fun, easy and accessible to individuals, families, groups and corporations. Discover how rewarding volunteering can be – whether you are 18 or 80, a high school student or a retiree, part of a community service group or a corporate president. You’ll know you have improved lives; whether it’s reading to children, or leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day. Remember, when you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all. Each one of us has special talents, things we can do to help. Put your talents to work for your community. Give the gift of you. Volunteer.

Independent Sector: The estimated dollar value of one hour of volunteer time for 2010 in Connecticut is $26.98

• Individual or Youth Volunteers: You may think volunteering means picking up a paintbrush, planting trees, or working in a soup kitchen. It can be, but many nonprofits need professional services like writing a business plan, doing their books, developing a Web site, board governance or software training. United Way of Meriden and Wallingford offers you a variety of ways to get involved and make an impact. Volunteerism is also a great way to fulfill community service requirements for graduation, student organizations, college applications and scholarships, merit badges, and many other programs.

   

• Corporate Volunteers: An excellent way to help increase employee productivity, enhance employee teamwork skills, improve public image, and increase employee leadership skills by working together on a project in your community. Let the Volunteer Center coordinate a unique experience that gives company employees a chance to see firsthand the difference they make. Your company will benefit as your project not only promotes teambuilding, but also helps improve workplace morale and positions your company as an active and positive corporate citizen that helps meet critical needs to strengthen the community in which you do business. Take a morning, afternoon or day to serve your community through a hands-on volunteer experience!

• Holiday Programs: More than just a fundraising organization, the United Way of Meriden and Wallingford is a force for change that transforms the lives of local families by mobilizing the caring power of communities to improve lives. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available throughout the holiday season, and participants can serve at any level – from donating a warm coat to collecting food donations at your workplace or by “adopting” a local family. We need people like you to coordinate donations of food, toys, household items, gift baskets, food and gas gift cards, and warm clothing; these donations are great ways to invest in your community and they are always distributed to deserving families among us. Our Adopt-a-Family Program is a way to work with your family, friends, group, or company to sponsor a local family and purchase much-needed items off their wish list for the holidays. The United Way of Meriden and Wallingford also sponsors The Giving Tree at the Westfield Meriden mall, where shoppers are encouraged to select a tag from the tree, purchase the gift item on the tag, and drop the gift off with mall staff. Anything that you can do to help will have a huge impact on making the holidays much brighter for local families.   

For volunteer opportunities or for more information contact Wanda at The Volunteer Center: wanda@unitedwaymw.org or 203-235-4403 x12