Elizabeth Ramsburg's blog

United Way's Day of Action on June 21st  is a reminder to get involved and take action in communities across the country. Here in Stark County the Volunteer Resource Center is hosting a Family Volunteer Fair » from 1 to 4:00 p.m. at Dogwood Park Shelter in North Canton. We invite you to stop by and check out volunteer opportunities from over a dozen local agencies. Kid Power is amazing!

The 8th grade students at the Early College Academy » of Canton City Schools are ready for a fantastic summer of service and volunteering! Thanks to the tremendous teaching and mentoring the students have received in their College Readiness Class, they see the benefits of service to themselves, to the community and to future college and job applications.

The 5th annual “Trash to Treasure” sale at the University of Mount Union was a huge success thanks to the students, staff and community members of Alliance. An astounding $2,339.60 was raised thanks to the hard work and generosity of many. Students donated clothing, furniture, appliances, and items were either sold or recycled. Money from the sale will be awarded to student teams in the Pay it Forward Program which allocates sale dollars to local nonprofits in Alliance.

National Volunteer Week brings a wonderful time to thank all of our volunteers. (Hopefully, you enjoyed this countywide salute to volunteers and our gold ribbon fun!) My goal for the week was to do some volunteering every day and I was off to a great start! First, I collected litter with 67 other volunteers from Friends of Stark Parks. For the rest of the week, I planned to read to a child, to deliver Meals on Wheels, to make sunshine packages for hospice and to deliver gold ribbons and treats throughout our great community.

Enthusiasm is a trait that many believe ensures success. Last week at United Way's 90th Annual Meeting celebration, Robert Belden, our 2013 campaign chair, mentioned enthusiasm. Enthusiasm inspires and catches fire. It is one of the essential traits of great volunteers.

Since 1961, United Way has recognized 139 outstanding leaders and volunteers for the impact they have made on the Stark County community.  The Gold Key Award has stood the test of time and is one of the highest honors a person can receive in community service. Do you know an exceptional volunteer you'd like to nominate today?  Nominate online in a few simple steps »

Community volunteers are the driving force behind all aspects of United Way of Greater Stark County operations.  Did you know that volunteers lead the funding, allocation, campaign and Board of Directors?  It is a commitment which requires tremendous time, care and thought as fair and balanced decisions are made for our community.   For these reasons each year at United Way Annual Meeting the Gold Key Award is given to an outstanding United Way volunteer.  The Gold Key is a longstanding tradition of honor and gratitude for a job well done by community members. 

Are you looking to start a new holiday tradition? Bond with family and friends and create lasting memories through volunteering. Prepare a Thanksgiving meal for people who can't afford one, or collect new toys to donate for Toys for Tots. You'll be giving a meaningful
gift to others, but also treating yourself to a fun and memorable experience.

What’s with all those lime green shirts around Stark County? If this question is going through your mind on Friday, Sept. 7, we've got the answer for you! Those are the t-shirts of over 1300 business volunteers making Stark County a better place to live.  This Friday is United Way of Greater Stark County’s 19th Annual Day of Caring! Local non-profit agencies will benefit from 102 projects tackled by wonderful and caring teams of volunteers. If you're wondering about the bright green color, you might recognize it as Huntington National Bank green.

Everyone is welcome to stop by the Quaker Steak and Lube on August 16th  from 4:00-6:00 for our Second Annual Volunteer Cruise-In.  You are welcome to roam around and hear about the great opportunities local non-profit agencies have for you to get involved and to share your talents and skills.