Volunteers are needed more than ever while area organizations cope with the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic.
The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania has responded by organizing its first Week of Caring, running through Oct. 10.
More than 700 volunteers have signed up to participate in 75 in-person and virtual projects that are expected to benefit more than 50,000 people across Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Armstrong and Fayette counties. The effort replaces a series of individual Day of Caring events in previous years that each focused, in turn, on volunteerism in a specific county.
“It’s definitely larger than doing things individually,” said United Way spokeswoman Stacy Skiavo. “More so than any other year, there’s been a need for bonding together, uniting the five counties. We’re coming together and making this a huge week of caring instead of individual days.”
On Friday, Oct. 2, volunteers will help the Boy Scouts of America maintain trails, construct benches and complete other tasks at their Camp Guyasuta in O’Hara.
Other projects in Allegheny County that will get a boost during the Week of Caring include preparations for a garage sale at Pittsburgh’s Holy Family Institute, sorting of donated clothing for distribution in McKees Rocks and landscaping at the Sarah Heinz House in Pittsburgh’s East Allegheny neighborhood.
Westmoreland County volunteers will help paint fences and clean the barn and tack room Monday at the Stoneybrook Foundation Therapeutic Riding Center in Donegal Township. Other efforts in that county will include maintenance of the Westmoreland Heritage Trail in Trafford, landscaping and painting at the Salvation Army’s New Kensington Center and packing food at the Westmoreland County Food Bank in Delmont.
How to help from home
While social distancing and other health guidelines are to be in place for project volunteers, the United Way has included some alternate “virtual” efforts people can take part in from home.
Volunteers are needed to knit scarves, create cards for senior citizens and work with the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services in Greensburg to prepare virtual sign language interpretations of stories or presentations.
Visit unitedway4u.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities through the regional United Way.
