Gulf Coast Community Foundation Grant Supports Volunteerism
by Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director – United Way of Charlotte County
I enjoy good quality food and I love to cook it. I don’t always have the time to cook for my family, but when I do, I make sure it is of the best quality. And I really like my vegetables, but not just any veggies. Fresh out of the garden vegetables. The recipes that I enjoy are time-consuming and gourmet. Some may call me a foodie or a culinarian and I’m okay with that. This past year with my family, we began Saturday Meals with the theme of dinners around the world. My husband and my daughter contribute, and we plan, prepare and eat a delicious meal together. My mother-in-law loves these meals also. Family and Food! Talk about a a Win-Win!
I get the same happy feelings on the job at United Way of Charlotte County (UWCC) as we mobilize the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty. Pulling people together for a common cause in the community always feels good.
The Miriam P. Raines Charitable Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently awarded UWCC a $25,000 grant to support an expansion of our mobilization efforts. This grant will support the development of a volunteer coordination program at UWCC, in alignment with our new strategic priorities. UWCC will use this program to tap into the wealth of available talent in Charlotte County through concerted volunteer recruitment, placement and retention efforts.
UWCC offers multiple in-house opportunities for volunteering throughout the year. One-time projects such as stuffing Kindergarten Readiness Bags or assisting at a fundraising event work great for individuals with limited time to give. For short-term involvement, many Charlotte County residents have found fulfillment in joining us through tax season to support our VITA program. And, of course, we would never turn down year-round help!
What is exciting about this expanded volunteer program is that UWCC’s team will be better able to connect volunteers of all interests with a variety of projects throughout the community – not just with United Way! The needs in Charlotte County are great, giving rise to innumerable ways to give back, and with the backing of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, we will be poised to make those connections.
United Way of Charlotte County’s strategic priorities include educational success, financial empowerment and senior issues. We have already identified multiple ways that volunteers can be mobilized to make an exponential impact in each of these areas. Our goal is to find that Win-Win for each volunteer and the program or project they will be supporting.
Our partnership with Gulf Coast Community Foundation has been one of innovation and pushing the limits. I am grateful for their support for this work and many other projects they have embarked on with UWCC.
The opportunities are innumerable. If you are ready to roll your sleeves up to get busy with other members of our community (figuratively speaking), visit unitedwayccfl.org/volunteer.
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.