ni e County Broward Way of United Un t U i Wa te it d ay of Wa W y of o ar ow o Brow a d Co ar Co n C u ou t un y nt ty 2014 Volunteer Opportunities 2015 UnitedWayBroward.org 2014 United Way Worldwide Common Good Award Recipient
1 2 3 4 Next Steps: Choose an initiative to adopt. Complete the online request at UnitedWayBroward.org/volunteers. Please allow 5-10 business days to develop a list of options for you. For multiple days of activities please allow 2-3 weeks to develop a list of options. Notify your Development Officer of your interests, pin point key activities. Create a committee for 3-5 people to help coordinate.
How to Volunteer with United Way of Broward County Thank you for your interest in hosting a project to support United Way of Broward County Impact agenda of Education, Income and Health. Whether you are collecting school supplies, creating literacy kits or making breakfast bags, your donations and contributions make a powerful impact. To begin, there are a few important matters that your team needs to consider. Will this be a project to engage a large group or a smaller project to motivate your team? In either case, always consider your corporate or organizational mission and goals. United Way of Broward County has found that many companies and groups need to be prepared to supplement collected donations to offset low participation. This could require some costs to support your project. For example, will you need to purchase collection devices (boxes or barrels)? Will you need to consider transportation? There are also times when your colleagues will exceed your expectations. Be prepared for either situation. United Way of Broward County can support you with: Coordinating a representative to come to an opening or closing of your collection Providing consulting and technical assistance Planning an on-site activity Providing project ideas
1 2 3 4 Get Management Support Leadership support is vital to the success of your collection drive or on-site project. Let management know you re coordinating a drive or on-site project and get their buy-in. Invite colleagues from across your organization to be a part of the team by bringing their enthusiasm and creativity. Secure an appropriate space to hold your activity. If, for example, you are assembling items or kits, you will need table space or window ledges to form an assembly line. If you are creating kits or crafts, you may need tables and chairs. If your organization has multiple sites, consider having a point person at each location. Collection projects are great for corporate offices. Set a Goal Identify goals that support your mission or align with United Way of Broward County s Impact agenda. If this is the first time you are planning an event, choose a goal that is both challenging and achievable. If your organization or group has sponsored a collection drive or on site-project previously, speak with the person that coordinated it to learn what was successful, and obtain helpful tips for improvement. Consider increasing your goal. Motivating Participation & Getting Organized Make it easy for friends and colleagues to give by providing collection boxes in visible or high traffic locations throughout your facility. Remember to include other sites if your organization has several offices. If you are doing a packing project or making kits, plan for the amount of time you will need to spend on the project. Factors include: the number of people, your budget and the number of items you are assembling. A simple secondary project if you have extra time is making greeting cards. They are utilized by agencies year round, so the more you make, the better! Promotion Check on the rules for posting promotional information at your facility. Communicate with your colleagues about the drive or project and when it will begin and end. Get their help in spreading the word. Give updates along the way to encourage participation and maintain enthusiasm. Share information about the recipient organization with your colleagues. Consider taking photos.
How to Get Started 5 6 Provide Incentives Friendly competitions can be arranged between departments, teams and groups within your organization for collection drives. Offer prizes such as coupons for free lunches, gift certificates or a vacation day to the team that brings in the most donations. Communicate final results and express thanks to all participants and team leaders; salute them in your employee newsletter or your intranet and website. Wrap Up, Sorting & Distribution At the end of the drive, gather folks together to sort or assemble the items. Consider the best way to box or bag the items so they can be picked up easily by the recipient agency. For more information about volunteering through the United Way of Broward County and how it can provide your organization with helpful tips, suggestions, and approved vendors, please contact volunteer@unitedwaybroward.org.
Impact Agenda: Youth Success UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY s goal is to ensure all students in the region have access to high quality education from cradle to career leading them on the path to success. With the help of partners, advocates, local nonprofits and committed volunteers, United Way of Broward County invests in early learning and ensures kindergarten preparedness, focuses on early literacy to ensure kids can read at grade level by third grade, intervenes in middle and high school through innovative mentoring programs to make sure kids graduate, and provides exposure to higher education and the workplace as well as the support to get there so young adults continue on to college and career. How to Help! Your organization or group can help support local educational goals through becoming Reading Pals or hosting a collection, sorting, or packing project with your group. The following list of suggested items provided by local educators can be donated to advance local educational goals: College Kits/Back to School: Backpacks Notebooks Writing paper Pencils Pens Highlighters Markers Crayons Glue Pocket folders Loose leaf paper Did You Know? Lat year, ReadingPals volunteers contributed more than 3,600 hours of one-on-one mentoring to more than 200 elementary school students. My student struggles so much with her reading, but tries so hard. She has such a bright smile and wants so much to please. She is a joy to spend time with each week and I consider myself the lucky one to have her! -Janice M. Charlassier, ReadingPals volunteer at Croissant Park Elementary
Impact Agenda: Financial Stability UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY believes in order to build strong communities, we must help individuals gain access to jobs providing family-sustaining wages. We must also ensure these individuals have the knowledge and resources they need to create a more financially-stable future for themselves and their families. United Way of Broward County does this by supporting initiatives that prepare individuals for stable employment by helping them to make positive financial decisions and by empowering them to save for their future. How to Help! Your organization or group can help support local families in becoming financially secure through hosting a collection, sorting, and packing project with your group. The following list of suggested items can be donated to advance United Way of Broward County s financial stability goals and have been provided by local practitioners: Welcome Home Kit: Dishes Pots & Pans Silverware Sponges Cleaning brushes Bleach Laundry soap Dish soap Bath soap All purpose Cleaner Disinfectant Twin sheet sets Towels & rages Pillows Blankets Toilet Tissue Paper Towel Personal Hygiene items (deodorant, lotion, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste) Gift Cards (Publix, Target & Walmart) for emergency assistance Did You Know? In 2014, United Way of Broward County provided free tax assistance to more than 400 clients on board United Way s Mobile Resource Center. To be able to have my taxes prepared at no cost is a blessing. I can use the money I saved filing my income taxes for food and clothing - things that are a priority to me. Fernando Rincon, Broward County resident
Impact Agenda: Improving People s Health UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY is committed to improving the health of individuals and families throughout the region. United Way of Broward County helps older adults in good health in their homes and communities, and connects community members with the resources they need to make healthy choices every step of the way, investing in programs that reverse childhood obesity and that build safer homes, schools and neighborhoods. How to Help! Your organization or group can help support the health and safety of our region through hosting a collection, sorting and packing project with your group. The following list of suggested items can be donated to advance good health and have been provided by local practitioners: Toiletries/ Serve the Elderly Drive: Lotion Deodorant Shampoo & Conditioner Razors Toothbrush Toothpaste Feminine hygiene items Socks Undergarments (men & women) Crossword Puzzles Baby Shower Drive: Diapers (all sizes) Baby bottles Baby formula Baby food Baby Wipes Baby Bibs Baby socks Onesies Warm for the Winter: Blankets Socks Towels Undergarments Help the Hungry Drive: Canned goods Sugar Rice Peanut Butter & Jelly Oatmeal Cereal Toiletries Talcum Powder Did You Know? Last year, more than 9,600 clients and families were served by 24 health-related programs with a total funding of more than $1.6 million. Fact: percent in Broward County.
MISSION UNITED Mission United is a critical program supporting US military service members, veterans and their families in Broward County by helping them transition to civilian life. Key focus areas include employment, education, health, legal assistance, emergency financial aid, and housing. How to Help! our organization or group can help support the veterans through hosting a collection, sorting and packing project with your group. The following list of suggested items can be donated to advance good health and have been provided by local practitioners: Interview kit: Portfolio Pens Breathmints Deodorant Light Perfume Chapstick Lotion Brush Did You Know? MISSION UNITED has provided assistance to more than 1,500 veterans, active military service members and their families. County and MISSION UNITED. They found me a place to live, a bed to sleep on and the ability to have electricity and running water. -James Clark, veteran and Broward County resident
CORPORATE VOLUNTEER PROJECT REQUEST FORM Company: Address: City, State, Zip: Contact Person: Phone: Company s Twitter Handle? Dept: Email: Today s Date: Other Social Media? Focus Area company would like to serve: Location: Education Income Health Homelessness Outside of workplace Inside of workplace 1 Project Budget: 2 Expected number of volunteers: 3 Are family members volunteering as well, or only associates? If family members are volunteering, what is the youngest age? 4 Desired date of service: Is date of service flexible? 5 Desired start time: 6 Desired end time: 7 Maximum distance from company location: 8 Does the company have any special needs or restrictions? Preferences: Would the company and/or employee volunteers be willing to donate necessary materials, if needed, to help complete the 1 project and offset costs for the agency? (E.g. paint, rollers, gardening tools, plants, etc.) Is there a preference for people projects (e.g. serving with 2 children or seniors) or physical labor such as painting, landscaping, etc.? 3 Agency preferences: 4 Please provide any additional details. For Internal Use Only: Internal Contact: *Please note that we will do our best to match your preferences, however; it may not always be possible Initial Follow-up: