For the first time, two long-standing Pitt community traditions are happening back-to-back.
Sign up and encourage your colleagues to register for Pitt’s United Way Day of Caring on Friday, Oct. 19, and Pitt Make a Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 20.
United Way Day of Caring
- Who: Pitt faculty and staff; families are welcome, too.
- When: Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where: Transportation is provided to the work sites. Pickup is at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.
- What: Projects of 5-20 volunteers include landscaping, painting and similar activities. Bring water to drink throughout the day.
- Don’t miss: Registration closes on Friday, Sept. 21.
Pitt Make a Difference Day
- Who: 5,000 Pitt students; faculty and staff are welcome, too.
- When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: Transportation is provided from the William Pitt Union to the work sites.
- What: Large-scale service projects around the city of Pittsburgh, around 50 volunteers per site. Bring water to drink throughout the day.
- Don’t miss: Registration closes Saturday, Oct. 6. Project leader registration closes Sept. 30.
“We put them back-to-back this year so that we could solicit projects from all of our community partners at once and avoid overlap, expanding our reach of service between the two days,” said Cassandra Hayt, communication and advocacy manager in the Office of Community and Governmental Relations and coordinator of this year’s United Way Day of Caring at Pitt.
Service work sites and team members may vary from year to year, but “we have a number of stalwarts who return every year,” said Tracy Soska — himself included. The clinical associate professor, Community, Organization and Social Action (COSA) chair and continuing education director in the School of Social Work will be participating in his 26th United Way Day of Caring this year.
Service projects can include food distribution, painting and landscaping. This year’s sites include Hosanna House, Sojourner House, Carnegie of Homestead, Family House, Peoples Oakland Recovery Center, Office of Community and Governmental Relations, Allegheny County Parks Department and ACH Clear Pathways.
Work materials, transportation and lunch are provided for volunteers.
“Pitt is part of the Pittsburgh community and while a component of that is providing University resources when appropriate to help address problems identified by the community, a second component is being a good neighbor and offering service in support of our community partners. It’s a great way to feel a part of the University and join your colleagues to provide a service,” said Hayt.
Faculty and staff members interested in volunteering for the Day of Caring service activity may select preferred work site locations and learn more about the day at https://bit.ly/2CKEpbz.
For more information or answers to questions, contact Cassandra Hayt at cassandra.hayt@pitt.edu.