United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) has hosted its first Day of Service for Caddo Parish Schools. In this first year, nearly 250 volunteers from eight local schools signed up to volunteer their time in the community, with the youngest participants being kindergarteners from Claiborne Magnet.
Volunteers disbursed to 10 different worksites throughout the city of Shreveport. A majority of the volunteers were students but educators and administrators also gave a helping hand. Worksite projects included serving meals at the new Christian Service soup kitchen, sorting donations at Common Ground Community, gardening at Goodwill, deep cleaning and more. This gives participants the opportunity to learn about human service needs in Northwest Louisiana. Day of Service also engages students by helping develop basic skills needed in the workforce.
“Volunteering is a great way to see what the needs are in our community,” said UWNWLA Community Engagement Coordinator, Jennifer Horton. “The example veterans set by serving can be appreciated year round. On this Veterans Day we remember and model their service.”
This parish-wide effort will save local nonprofits about $17,000 according independentsector.org which estimates the value of a volunteer’s time.
The following nonprofits and schools participated:
- Christian Service Program, 2346 Levy St.
- Food Bank of NWLA, 2307 Texas Ave.
- Common Ground Community, 6806 Southern Ave.
- Goodwill, 800 W. 70th
- Holy Angels, 10450 Ellerbe Rd.
- Mercy Center, 740 Austen Pl.
- Providence House, 814 Cotton St.
- Renzi Education and Art Center, 435 Egan St.
- Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission, 6800 Mansfield Rd.
- Volunteers of America, 453 Jordan St.
- Claiborne Elementary
- North Highland Elementary
- Youree Drive Middle
- Walnut Hill Middle
- Caddo Middle Career and Technology School
- Caddo Magnet High
- E. Byrd High
- North Caddo High
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