Kishwaukee United Way’s annual Day of Caring volunteer event occurs each year in the summer months. Thanks to a continuing partnership with Target, agencies will get the benefit of volunteer service and support this winter season as well, for the third year in a row. Lauren Doorlag and Rebecca Nelson from the Target Distribution Center reached out to Dawn Littlefield, Director of Kishwaukee United Way and together they wrote a grant again this year supporting over 10-15 projects that allows Target volunteers to lend service to nonprofit groups, and helps agencies purchase needed supplies and materials related to their mission.
This event promotes teamwork and cooperation, and is planned for January 12th and 15th respectively, to honor the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This project helps to answer a question posed by Dr. King himself — “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” The goal of these projects speak to his inquiry; creating an initiative that mobilizes individuals to give time, talents and energy to help others. The volunteer workdays will give Target team members the opportunity to volunteer locally, learn more about local nonprofits, and make a hands-on difference in our community.
Kishwaukee United Way reached out to partner agencies in December, and identified various sites for volunteer work. The relationships United Way has with local agencies made it easy to connect with staff and finalize projects. In addition to staffing the volunteer days, Target Corporation has provided a $10,000 grant to be divided among the sites for supplies and project costs as well as lunch for the volunteers and agency staff. The funds will be used to support a variety of efforts, from helping to clean and paint nonprofit sites, to hosting activities with children and helping to supply items for classrooms, stocking and organizing food pantries, supporting mentors and building a learning trail for kids.
MLK Works Days will match Target team members to Kishwaukee United Way partner agency sites in DeKalb and Sycamore. Teams will kick off their projects with a Rally on both service days, Friday, January 12th and Monday January 15th, and proceed to work at sites from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm both days. Dawn Littlefield, Director of Kishwaukee United Way Director stated, “I am excited that this project has been supported by Target again this year, and that we can engage with our partners in this way. We are grateful for Target’s support and involvement to make this day possible,” Littlefield said. “This is a wonderful chance to help nonprofits complete needed tasks at this time of year, and bolster some of their resources to enable them to continue serving individuals and families in our area.”
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