Mark your calendar and plan to join your friends and neighbors on Saturday, Sept. 12, for United Way’s Day of Caring and American Red Cross Blood Drive when hundreds of local volunteers will gather together to make a difference in our community. 

The 14th annual Day of Caring and Blood Drive is the official kickoff to the 2009 United Way community campaign, and gives volunteers an opportunity to see their United Way donations at work first-hand.

Groups, families, businesses and individuals are all encouraged to get involved. Twenty-one projects are available to choose from and can be reserved by calling the United Way office at 765-457-6691.

The day begins at 7:30 a.m. at Kokomo High School south campus with a free breakfast catered by Sheila’s Catering. Following breakfast, volunteer groups will leave for their worksites to complete a service project that will benefit our community.

Volunteers are currently needed to fill more than 300 positions. Landscaping for the Boy Scout and Girl Scout offices, indoor painting for the YMCA Childcare facility and the Mental Health Association, outdoor cleaning for Bona Vista or cleaning up Wildcat Creek with the Wildcat Guardians.  These are just samples of the types of projects available.

All volunteers will receive a FREE T-shirt and a coupon good for a FREE lunch at the Kokomo Subway location of their choice.

A blood drive, sponsored by the American Red Cross, will also be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kokomo High School. The need for new and repeat donors is critical. If it has been awhile since you have donated blood, or you are interested in becoming a first-time donor, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will be accepted. All donors will receive a T-shirt and be entered in a prize drawing.

According to Toni Fox, American Red Cross Blood Recruitment Coordinator, “We have a goal of 155 units, each unit can save up to three lives. Each and every day the American Red Cross needs a least 500 good units of blood to provide the hospitals with this life-saving product for patients in need. The American Red Cross serves both Howard Regional Health System and St.Joseph Hospital here in Kokomo. Blood donation is safe, simple and really does save lives.”

Sponsors for this year’s Day of Caring and American Red Cross Blood Drive include:  AFSCME Local 3733, Howard-Tipton Counties CLC, Visiting Nurse Service, Howard Regional Health System, Mid-America Beverage, Ivy Tech Community College, Expressions, Robert Mitchell, MD., American Trust Bank,  St.Joseph Hospital, Haynes International, Barker’s B&K, Southern Care Hospice and Subway.

To sign up for a Day of Caring project, please contact Cheryl Graham at the United Way of Howard County by calling 765-457-6691 or e-mailing cgraham@unitedwayhoco.org.

____________________________________________________

When you give to the United Way of Howard County, your gift funds "what matters"! You provide food and shelter to those in need, allow the elderly and the disabled to remain independent and provide kids with programs they need to learn and grow.

United Way of Howard County funds 15 agencies and more than 30 programs that serve over 80% of Howard County residents.

All donations to United Way of Howard County are used within Howard County. Learn how to donate your time or a monetary value.