Employees Put Muscles Into Volunteer Work
Friday will be anything but “business as usual” for more than 200 Spokane-area employees. The volunteers will spend their work day doing community service in United Way’s Day of Caring.
Because interest and participation in the event has grown since its inception last year, two day’s worth of projects have been scheduled. Saturday will also be a work day to accommodate requests and volunteers who prefer a weekend date.
The Day of Caring matches employee volunteers with United Way member agencies to work on capital projects which includes painting, landscaping, maintenance and repairs. Also scheduled are picnics, barbecues and a child’s carnival.
“The top priority for human care service agencies is meeting the needs of people in Spokane County,” said Tyrus Tenold, president of Spokane 1-Hour Photo and chairman of United Way’s Volunteer Center Advisory Board. “With shrinking funds and staffs that are stretched to the limit, too often there are not enough resources to go that extra step.”
That’s what the Day of Caring is all about - one day a year in which companies and their employees, as volunteers, make a significant difference to a non-profit organization, Tenold said.
Already, the Day of Caring has been noticed by those who publicly applaud good deeds. Last year’s event garnered awards for public relations excellence: The Addy Award from the Spokane Advertising Federation and the Arthur L. Dussault Award from the Spokane Public Relations Council. It was also a finalist in the national Telly Awards.
Businesses participating in this year’s event include: AgAmerica, Washington Attorney General’s Office, Community Colleges of Spokane, Cowles Publishing Co., Group Health Northwest, Rockwood Clinic, Guardian Life Insurance Co., JCPenney Co., Kaiser Mead/Trentwood, KHQ-TV, Medical Service Corp., the Office of Former Speaker Foley, Pitney Bowes, Seafirst Bank, Target-Spokane Valley, UFCW Local 1439, Washington Mutual Bank and Washington Water Power Company.
For more information about Day of Caring, specific event times and locations, call 838-6581.
Cruising with KPBX
Another event which has grown in popularity in short a time is the KPBX Cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
The public is invited to attend the third annual cruise from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Aug. 16.
The live blues music of Too Slim and the Taildraggers will be featured, along with complimentary deli hors d’oeuvres and a no-host beverage bar.
Boarding is at 6:45 p.m. at the Boardwalk Marina-Eastside at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. Two-hour free parking is available at the City Lot nearby.
All proceeds will benefit Spokane Public Radio-KPBX FM 91. Tickets, a donation of $17.50, are available at KPBX, 2319 N. Monroe. For ticket orders or more information, call the station at 328-5729 or 1-800-328-5729.