Nothing to do this weekend?
How about some landscaping, reconstructing a trail, putting up afence or building a garden box?
Not for yourself, but for others.
This weekend, Southern Colorado Make a Difference Day will beobserved. The Pikes Peak United Way and the Center for Non-ProfitExcellence are sponsoring a two-day event that brings togetherresource agencies and volunteers.
More than 51 agencies want about 1,700 volunteers.
Some of the work includes loading and packing meal boxes, cleaningand painting homes, winterizing gardens and staffing an indoor yardsale.
Volunteers will meet for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Friday andSaturday in the Memorial Park Pavilions.
'We are very excited about the number of volunteers,' said ChristyStettler, executive director of Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center,6325 Sorpresa Lane. 'All that's needed is a strong back and the willto volunteer.'
The center expects about 50 volunteers to help build anobservatory deck, paint and clean the facility. Currently, allvolunteer slots for this project are filled.
The only rule to participate is to help someone in need.
Make a Difference Day organizers estimate they have involvedmillions of volunteers and completed thousands of volunteer projectsin the past 13 years.
According to the United Way, volunteer numbers have nearly doubledfrom last year with help from corporations such as Agilent and Intel,which are contributing about 180 employees.
With such large numbers, volunteers fill slots for storytellingand reading to children, removing graffiti and working in a soupkitchen.
Other agencies, however, still need volunteers.
'Our own volunteers are high up to their eyebrows in high-priority projects,' said Howard Noble, executive director of the all-volunteer Pikes Peak Historic Railway. 'Having the additionalvolunteers allows us to get other things done.'
His group is looking for strong volunteers to lift tie plates onpallets and to clean, paint and hang wallboard inside the car house.Lunch will be provided.
Many projects are outdoors with indoor backup plans in case ofcold or wet weather.
Some indoor activities include cleaning, painting or repairing atWest Middle School, Ronald McDonald House, Interfaith HospitalityNetwork, Rocky Mountain Health Care Services and seniors' homes, andhelping transport and sort out donations for the Care and Share FoodBank.
'This event means a lot to the whole community. It helps developcompassion for our fellow neighbor,' United Way volunteer Dave Aignersaid.
For information, contact Pikes Peak United Way,www.ppunitedway.org or 955-0741.
