School Toolkit

What can volunteers do for your school?  We are excited to recruit volunteers to “adopt” a project at your school for a day, next month or throughout the year.  We invite you to join in the 12th Annual United Way of Northwest Michigan Day of Caring!  Volunteers can participate in several large group projects such as “Sock It To Me”, homeless outreach, environmental clean-up, food drives, beautification of your school grounds, or projects we can help you create.

All interested youth and adults are invited to work with other conscientious individuals to do something good for the community.  Day of Caring will be SEPTEMBER 13 with a kick-off breakfast  but activities can extend into the weekend, or another month in order to allow those with work or school conflicts to participate. We are asking our volunteers to pledge time through out the year!  Projects can be completed before school starts.  August 23, 24, 25 or 26th would be a perfect time to have projects done. 

Schools and student groups have traditionally participated in “Sock It To Us” to benefit Northern Michigan families in need as part of the Day of Caring. Students may drop socks off at the United Way building, 521 S. Union St., Traverse City, or you may designate a location within your school for a sock drop box. Local food pantries in cooperation with Northwest Michigan Human Services will distribute the socks.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes will also provide Kindergarten through 8th grade curriculum science standards if your school or class would like to participate in the environmental clean up.

Help us match volunteers with fun projects that benefit your school. Attached are a few ideas, please let us know if you have any other ideas for a possible project.

The benefits are plentiful for all concerned with Day of Caring. Your school can get thousands of hours of donated labor, enabling you to complete projects you need to accomplish.  Volunteers get a sense of accomplishment by helping you!

United Way Volunteer Center Day of Caring School Project Ideas

Project Priorities: To create projects that will result in meaningful activity. Projects should be:
Simple and straightforward to accomplish.
Low cost, but with a tangible project at the end.
Educates the volunteers about your school and programs.

Building
Build shelves, bookcases, picnic tables
Repair playground equipment

Program Focused
Assist with program activities, reading,
after-school activities,

Landscaping/Gardening
Advise on what works for your school garden
Create landscape plans
Plant bulbs
Prepare beds for the winter months
Weed, trim trees, plant flowers
Help with yard maintenance
Plant a tree in honor of someone
Pot flower or plants for classrooms

Miscellaneous
Host a party or other outing with students
Help with school Carnivals
Create a “Grandparents volunteer group”
Organize the lost and found boxes throughout the school year
Prepare a mailing for school
Office Help
Distribute flyers or posters for an event
Conduct a “Sock Drive” (Sock it to em) (see attached)
Start a volunteer campaign to recruit for your PTO
“Dress” bulletin boards

If you have any questions, please call  me at 231-922-7338 or 1-800-344-9333 and my e-mail address is susan@unitedway.tcnet.org.  We are looking forward to working with you.