The United Way of Clallam County will kick off its 2011 fundraising campaign with at least 27 Day of Service projects throughout the county Saturday.
Since the terrorist attacks 10 years ago, Sept. 11 has been set aside as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Volunteer projects in Clallam County will be the day before the anniversary.
“United Way has been arranging community volunteer opportunities for many years as part of the beginning of the United Way annual fund drive and now will continue in conjunction with the National Day of Service,” said Jody Moss, executive director.
The effort launches the United Way 2010-2011 annual fund drive, which will run from September through December.
This year’s goal is to raise $1,002,011.
Last year, United Way raised $900,715, which was distributed to local nonprofits throughout the year. Its goal was $1 million.
“We believe that local charitable giving will be the best way, and now one of the only ways, that we can help our most vulnerable families, children and seniors,” said Tom Baermann, co-chair with his wife, Jackie Baermann, of the 2011 United Way Campaign.
The 2011 United Way volunteer coordinator for activities and volunteer groups for this event is Patrick Downie, Port Angeles City Council member.
“I have a goal of getting 1,000 helping hands out working on one day in our county,” Downie said.
Companies are gathering a corps of volunteers and adopting projects for team-building opportunities, Moss said.
Community volunteers, especially families, are welcome to join, she added.
“A great example of an organization adopting the Day of Service is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Moss said.
“This group may have as many as 250 volunteers working at various projects across the county.”
Kickoff ceremonies for the day in Port Angeles and Sequim will be at 8:30 a.m. with Boy Scouts leading flag salutes .
The Port Angeles ceremony will be at City Pier while the Sequim kickoff will be at the Sequim City Hall flagpole on Cedar Street.
Volunteers can phone United Way at 360-457-3011, meet at the opening ceremonies in Port Angeles and Sequim, or just show up at the projects.
Projects include yard work, landscaping, painting, cleanup and home repairs.
Times for projects are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. or until done.
Day of Service projects scheduled so far are:
Port Angeles
■ Healthy Families of Clallam County — Paint interior rooms at one of the shelters.
■ Serenity House — Landscaping and painting at Serenity House’s Maloney Heights.
■ City Pier — Painting and weeding mounting historical displays related to the Elwha dam removals project, which will begin the following week.
■ St. Andrew’s Place — Building flower boxes and redoing some block masonry.
■ Dream Playground — Family Day at the Dream Playground at Fourth and Race streets, with booths and activities for children.
■ Port Angeles unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula — Interior painting. (This project may be scheduled at a different date, Moss said.)
■ Olympic Community Action Programs Head Start in Port Angeles — Landscaping, painting at sites on Francis Street and Hamilton School.
■ First Step Family Support Center — Cleaning and maintenance.
Sequim
■ Sequim Food Bank — Painting and reorganizing interior and landscaping exterior.
■ Sequim unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of Olympic Peninsula — Landscaping.
■ First Teacher playground — Weeding, cleanup of playground and reorganizing the library.
■ Volunteer Chore Services — Landscaping, home repair for an elderly client.
■ Olympic Community Action Programs Head Start in Sequim — Removal and replacement of bushes.
■ A dozen projects at city parks and other sites — Meet at City Hall flag pole at 7:45 a.m.
West End
■ Crescent School — Finishing a landscaping project. Volunteers will meet at the school at 9 a.m.
■ Forks Abuse Program — Exterior painting and landscaping. Volunteers will meet at Forks Abuse at 9 a.m.
For more information, phone 360-457-3011 or visit www.unitedwayclallam.org.
