UNITED WAY OF HAYWOOD COUNTY INC

COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING - THE ANNUAL DAY OF CARING FOR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY WIDE PROJECTS AS WELL AS OTHER GENERAL SERVICES PERFORMED IN THE COMMUNITY. DAY OF CARING BEGAN IN 1997 WITH 15 PROJECTS AND 75 VOLUNTEERS, AND HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO 30 PROJECTS AND APPROXIMATELY 325 VOLUNTEERS. THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE HOME REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, SUCH AS PAINTING, YARD WORK, AND BUILDING ACCESS RAMPS. THE MISSION OF THE DAY OF CARING IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED RESIDENTS BY IMPROVING SAFETY AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN THEIR HOME. - DAY OF CARING DETAILS - IN APRIL, WE ASK AGENCIES SUCH AS THE HAYWOOD COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND MOUNTAIN PROJECTS TO NAME PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM A DAY OF CARING PROJECT. THE AGENCIES DETERMINE IF THERE IS TRUE FINANCIAL NEED. THE ORGANIZATION ASKS LOCAL COMPANIES TO LOAN EMPLOYEES FOR THE DAY TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS. IT IS A GOOD TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SPEND A DAY OUTSIDE THE NORMAL WORK ENVIRONMENT. THE ORGANIZATION WILL MATCH THE VOLUNTEERS WITH PROJECTS BASED ON THEIR SKILL LEVEL. THE LEADER OF THE TEAM GOES OUT TO THE PROJECT ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE DAY OF CARING AND MAKES A MATERIALS LIST. THIS LIST IS GIVEN TO VOLUNTEERS WHO GATHER THE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE JOB. SOME MATERIALS ARE DONATED. FUNDS FOR DAY OF CARING ARE BUDGETED ALONG WITH OTHER AGENCY SUPPORT. TODAY, WE HAVE 30 PROJECTS AROUND HAYWOOD COUNTY DONE BY APPROXIMATELY 325 VOLUNTEERS. SOME OF THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE PROVIDING FIREWOOD TO INDIVIDUALS, PRESSURE WASHING, PAINTING, KOOLSEALING AND UNDERPINNING. WE ARE DOING SOME SIMPLE PLUMBING, A LOT OF CLEANING AND YARD WORK, BUILDING ACCESS RAMPS AND REPACKAGING PRODUCTS FOR MANNA FOOD BANK. DAY OF CARING IS AN EXCITING DAY