The following opportunities are excellent ways to host volunteer projects at your work location.
Please remember that these projects need to be booked in advance with United Way. We need to locate and
notify recipient organizations that these products are being donated as storage space is often limited. We like
to spread the wealth among our community partners to ensure as many as possible benefit from your
volunteer efforts.
TIPS FOR VOLUNTEERING AT WORK
On-site volunteer projects are excellent for:



Team Building
Helping United Way donors understand where their dollars are going
Reinforce your organization’s values of giving back
Incorporate volunteering into the workday by:



Setting up Speed Volunteering stations in common spaces, such as lunchrooms.
Organizing a volunteer project to kick-off team or department meetings
Making United Way year round. Create volunteer activities in the off-season of campaigns.
SPEED VOLUNTEERING IDEAS
Drives with Assembly Project Component
There are endless types of drives you can conduct. United Way has provided ideas for the following volunteer
assembly projects:
Hygiene Kits
Dental Care Kits
Homework Helper Kits
Laundry Soap Packets
Early Learning Activity Kits
Greeting Card Activity
Baby Basics Baskets
Housewarming Baskets
Rooftop Garden Project
www.uwnns.org
Hygiene Kits
Children and adults living in poverty often go without the most basic personal hygiene items. You can provide
a low cost hygiene kit for children, young adults and adults. Create a team building experience with your coworkers by compiling and packaging the items into smaller containers to be distributed to low-income families
-
Shampoo/Conditioner
B od y L o t i o n
B a t h Soap
Deodorant
Comb/brush
Toothbrush/ Toothpaste
Dental Drive & Assembly Project
Help improve the oral health of children ages 5 and under and their families. Tooth decay is nearly 100 percent
preventable. Good oral health is an essential component of well-being. Dental caries is the most common
disease of children nationwide. Unfortunately, many families in Nevada underuse dental health care. Children
with tooth decay are more likely to experience other infections since the pathogens in their teeth can spread to
other parts of their body.
Marcdante, Karen J., and Waldo E. Nelson. Nelson essentials of pediatrics. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA:Saunders/Elsevier, 2011. Print.
Dental kits reach children who are most at-risk for experiencing poor oral health and lest able to access dental
care, particularly families living in low-income circumstances. Conduct a product drive at your place of
Work. AT the end of the drive gather volunteers to assemble the kits. Supplies can be placed in large zip-lock
bags for ease in distribution. United Way will provide you with information on agencies that will accept this
donation. Arrange for one of your teams to deliver them.
Dental Supplies for Young Children -
Soft toothbrushes (appropriate for 1-5 year olds)
Children's toothpaste – less fluoride and more appealing to young childrenChildren’s dental floss – wild berry flavor is a favorite!
Wash cloth for wiping infants gums
Dental Supplies for Parents and Expectant Mothers -
Adult soft toothbrushes
Large tubes of toothpaste
Adult dental floss
www.uwnns.org
Homework Helper Kits
The basic school supplies that most of us take for granted are not realistic for children living in poverty. Put
together a volunteer project at your workplace by stuffing backpacks with school supplies for these children.
-
School bag
# 2 Pencils
Pens
Markers
Crayons
1 2 ” Ruler
Notebooks
Glue
1-1/2” ring binder
Filler paper/construction paper
Scissors – Age appropriate
Create Family Packets of Laundry Soap
Want an easy volunteer project to do at your workplace and make a difference in the lives of low-income
families at the same time? Have fun with your team members while you work packaging laundry soap into
smaller containers to be distributed to low-income families. Food stamps don’t cover the cost of laundry
detergent so many people go without. Your team will provide the dry laundry detergent and reclosable
plastic bags (like Ziploc®) - what a great charitable contribution! Each bag needs to be labeled with
permanent marker – “Laundry Soap – two loads”. Additionally, each bag needs to have an insert with the
name of the detergent, ingredient list and if noted possible irritants, such as bleach. This information can be
found on the container and can be photocopied.
United Way will work with you in distributing it to families in need of this donation. Please arrange for one of
yourteam members to deliver them.
Approximate Costs: A 32.5 pound box of dry laundry detergent can be purchased at area discount stores for
less than $15 and will create 100 packages containing enough for two loads of clothes each. Three boxes of
detergent = $45. Ziploc bags – 1 qt. double seal- 300 = $24
Total to provide 300 packets of laundry detergent: $69
Time estimate: 1 person can do 60 packets in one hour.
www.uwnns.org
Early Learning Activities Kits for Parents
The years from birth to five years are crucial in every child’s development. These years are the building blocks
for future success as children enter kindergarten and move forward in their school education. All children have
four areas of development that need to be nurtured and enriched; cognitive, social/emotional,
language/literacy and physical. Not all parents know about simple activities to promote growth in these areas.
Nor do they have the financial ability to buy the items needed to conduct the activities.
United Way has a list of simple activities for parents to do with their children. We can provide that list for your
group to put together a bag along with the items needed for the activities on the list. The activities require one
or more of the following items: paper plates, glue, washable markers, empty egg carton, white paper, primary
color paper, crayons, chalk, children’s scissors, magnifying glass - any or all of these would be great. United
Way staff will match you with an organization that will accept your donation.
Cost will varies for each kit.
Time estimate varies with each kit.
Make Someone Happy
Use your artistic talents to create note cards or greeting cards for seniors or youth, with messages of cards of
encouragement, just to say hello, congratulations etc… or make note cards and bundle them together with a
book of stamps and an envelope for each card for them to mail to others! Most of the seniors are in nursing
homes. If you are considering cards for seniors, here are a few do’s and don’ts: do not use neon-colored
paper because of vision challenges and write big for the same reason. Be as creative as you want.
Supply List:






Card stock or heavy paper 8 1/2 by 11 inches can be cut in half and when folded makes a nice note
card). An option is to buy ready-made blank note cards at a craft store. This is just a more expensive
option.
Optional craft Items: stamping supplies, glue pens, pompoms, buttons, markers, feathers, scrap
booking supplies,
stickers, feathers - your creativity is the limit. Many volunteers have these type of leftover craft items
at home – ask them to bring them in for the project.
Scissors.
Optional: pinking shears that cut scallops or shapes are fun to have on hand.
Glue sticks or glue.
Contact United Way staff to learn about the current need in the community. They can also assist you in finding
agencies that accept the type of cards you hope to make.
Costs: Little or nothing depending on what supplies you have on hand or that volunteers can bring from home.
Cost estimate: None. Companies typically have all the supplies they need for this project.
Time estimate: 1 person can make about 12 in one hour.
www.uwnns.org
Baby Basics Basket
Every day, babies are born into the world without the basic necessities to prepare them for school and life.
Basic Basics is a way that you can make a difference. By getting together with your co-workers, friends and
family to create a Baby Basics Basket, you’ll help a baby in your own community get off to a better start and a
bright future.
Sign up your team with United Way and let us know how many baskets your organization will be able to
provide. We’ll match you up with an organization that serves children under three years of age. Volunteers
may select one or more new items from the list (below) needed to assemble a complete basket or baskets.
Schedule a “Baby Basics” event in which everyone assembles the baskets. Collect donated items in the week(s)
leading up to this event. Arrange with United Way to drop the baskets off.
















Diapers (size one package; one 4-6 month package)
Wipes (1-2 packages)
Ointment (1 tube)
Shampoo (1)
Bath Lotion (1)
Towels (1)
Washcloths (2)
Outfit (9-12 months)
Socks (1 pair)
Hats (1)
Changing Pads (1)
Receiving blanket (1)
Bottles (2)
Bibs (2)
Books (for infants, siblings and parenting)
Developmental toys (1)
Housewarming Baskets
Housewarming baskets is a volunteer opportunity for individuals, companies – even small groups of friends —
to run a donation drive that helps families moving into a stable home after living in a shelter or on the streets.
Drives can be large or small, run out of an office, house of worship, school or home. All it takes is a little
organization and commitment to make a huge difference.
Sign your team up with United Way and let us know how many baskets your organization will be able to
provide. We’ll match you up with an organization that helps families move into permanent homes. Volunteers
may select one or more new items from the list (below) needed on a “room list” to donate. Schedule a
“Housewarming Baskets” event in which everyone assembles the baskets. Collect donated items in the
week(s) leading up to this event. Arrange with United Way to drop the baskets off or have United Way
arrange to pick them up. What goes into a Housewarming Basket?
Kitchen Basket
 Silverware set
 Potholders
 Dish towels
 Glassware set
 Full set of pots & pans
 Spatulas
 Can opener
 Wastebasket
www.uwnns.org
Parent’s Room Basket
 Queen or full mattress pad
 Queen or full sheet set/pillowcase
 2 pillows
 Posters/wall prints
 Wastebasket
Living Room Basket
 Throw blanket
 Area rug
 Wall prints/picture frames
 Curtains
 Table lamp
Rooftop Garden Project
Anyone who has a passion for gardening, the outdoors, or children should come and join us to help beautify
the Rooftop Garden at the Homeless Shelter. The garden has been on the rooftop since 2010 and is utilized by
the families living at the shelter. Children and their families are educated on gardening and nutrition, the
importance of the outdoors, and how to cook with the crops that are grown. Some of the special activities
conducted are making homemade salsa, building scarecrows, etc. Every year around spring time, United Way
gathers volunteers together to do seasonal preparation of the 10 garden beds on the rooftop of the Homeless
Shelter.
If your company is interested in participating in this project, please contact United Way.
Contact Information:
Betty Rose
Volunteer Engagement Specialist
United Way of Northern Nevada
and the Sierra
[email protected]
Office: 775.325.8900
Main Office: 775.322.8668
www.uwnns.org