Each year, Week of Caring connects corporate volunteers from Bay Area businesses to hundreds of projects organized by local nonprofits. Week of Caring is partnership between United Way of the Bay Area and The Volunteer Centers of the Bay Area. The program provides an easy and unique way for organizations to strengthen community involvement. In 2007, our Center placed over 3,000 volunteers at 260 projects on behalf of 74 nonprofits around Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.
Week of Caring focuses on group projects that provide "team-building" experiences for corporate volunteer teams. Projects are one-time tasks that can be accomplished in 3 to 4 hours, during a morning or afternoon shift. The volunteer teams vary in size from groups of 4 up to groups of 25+. The program represents a great opportunity for nonprofit organizations to get a dedicated group of adult volunteers during a work week.
Nonprofit Toolkit
In June, we ask agencies to submit their projects online. During July and August, we match volunteer groups to the projects. At the end of August, we send a report back to all participating agencies providing the contact information for your volunteer groups.
Below you'll directions and information to help you develop your project and successfully submit it online. Please pay special attention to our Project Guidelines and Planning Checklist. History has taught us that Week of Caring volunteers have very different preferences from our other volunteer groups. For example, they prefer to volunteer during the day, Monday - Friday, instead of evenings and weekends. Also, Week of Caring volunteers would rather work a shift that begins early or ends later (Ex. 9am - 12pm or 1pm to 4pm) than a project that occurs in the middle of the day.
Volunteer Center staff are eager to help you get involved in Week of Caring 2008. Please contact Karla McCormick at (925) 472-5770 or kmccormick@helpnow.org if you would like further assistance.
2007 Week of Caring Calendar
Project guidelines
New project ideas
Project submission directions
Project planning checklist
How to check your project's status
Safety tips
Chevron volunteers helped plant seedlings at Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation (right) and Seneca Center enlisted the help of Volunteer Center staff (left) during Week of Caring 2005.
