MINDEN, LA– The spirit of philanthropy could be felt throughout the city of Minden Saturday. United Way of Northwest Louisiana’s annual Day of Caring Minden provided dozens of volunteer opportunities to local businesses. This single-day, community-wide event involved nearly 100 local volunteers that helped fulfill a need at eleven local nonprofits.
The event kicked off with a breakfast at the Webster-Bienville-Claiborne (WBC) Center, a satellite office of the main United Way NWLA location in Shreveport. Participants picked up their event t shirts and were briefed on the day ahead. From there, volunteers dispersed all throughout the city. The rest of the morning would be spent doing projects like prepping the American Legion Post 74 floor to be waxed or packaging and sorting food during the Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry distribution day and helping get four-legged friends adopted through the Webster Humane Association.
This is the fourth consecutive year United Way NWLA has hosted Day of Caring Minden. The event connects area businesses in teams of five to 20 with agencies in need of assistance. It also offers volunteers an opportunity to see what local nonprofits do every day.
“These projects help nonprofits with things they don’t have time to complete while handling their everyday operations,” said Volunteer Coordinator for United Way NWLA, Jennifer Horton. “They also may not have the manpower or resources to complete it. That’s where United Way steps in to help and what better way to do so than during National Volunteer Month.”
This event is dedicated to encouraging year-round volunteerism throughout the community. Horton says too frequently, volunteering is only thought of during the holiday season but depending on the nonprofit, volunteers are needed around the calendar.
Participating nonprofits: • United Way NWLA • American Legion • The Christian Church at Minden • Cultural Crossroads – The Farm • Creighton Hill Community Development • Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry
• Pregnancy Aid Center • Project Reclaim of Minden • United Christian Assistance Program • Webster Parish Council on Aging • Webster Humane Association
Participating volunteer teams: • MBL Bank • Goodwill • Fibrebond • Gibsland Bank & Trust • Webster Parish School Board • United Way NWLA
Event Sponsors: • Fibrebond • Minden Medical Center • Gibsland Bank & Trust • MBL Bank • Bon Temps • Coca-‐Cola • State Farm, Laura Horton • SOBO Promotional Products • State Farm, Logan McConathy