GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The United Way of Wayne County is turning its annual Day of Action into a weeklong community service initiative, offering residents numerous opportunities to volunteer across Wayne County.
During a recent interview on WGBR, United Way of Wayne County Executive Director Sherry Archibald shared details about this year’s “Days of Action,” which culminates on Thursday, June 18.
“Annually, United Ways all over the country have a day of action or days of action,” Archibald said. “This year, we chose June 18, and as projects kept coming in, it really became a whole week.”
The initiative includes volunteer opportunities ranging from an hour-long commitment to half-day projects, making it easier for families and individuals to participate while school is out for the summer.
Volunteer projects include Adopt-a-Block litter sweeps, community garden restoration, Habitat for Humanity house builds in McNair Heights, Little Sprouts summer lunch packing, Meals on Wheels food delivery, campus refresh projects at North Drive Elementary, wheelchair ramp installations, and neighborhood improvement efforts in Willowdale.
Residents interested in volunteering can find opportunities and register online at UnitedWayne.org.
“We’ve got lots of things going on this week,” Archibald said. “It’s a great time with school being out to get your family involved in something.”
In addition to its volunteer efforts, United Way continues settling into its downtown-adjacent location, which has provided new opportunities for community engagement.
“The biggest part of it is we’ve got some meeting space, so we’ve been able to engage a lot of community convenings,” Archibald said.
The organization is also preparing for its upcoming annual campaign, with approximately 13 major investors expected to serve as early supporters. Funds raised through the campaign support local programs throughout the following year.
Meanwhile, United Way’s board continues its three-year issue-focused transformation aimed at addressing poverty in Wayne County. The initiative, now about halfway through its planning phase, seeks to improve financial stability for residents by focusing on root causes identified through community feedback.
The organization has identified three primary areas of focus: basic needs, childcare, and employment and income. Community resiliency will remain a guiding pillar of the effort.
“We’ve spent a lot of time hearing from the community about what the needs are,” Archibald said. “Our goal will be to work toward bringing individuals to financial stability.”
For more information about volunteer opportunities, campaigns, or United Way’s community initiatives, visit UnitedWayne.org.
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