United Way of Northern Arizona — A Busy Summer for Volunteers

It’s been a non-stop summer for United Way of Northern Arizona volunteers as we worked together to help with post-fire recovery efforts, prepare for the increased possibility of flooding, and even help out at a couple of this year’s KinderCamp™ events.

Before we take a look at the work done – and a few upcoming events – we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for their hard work so far this season.

The Numbers So Far: More than 1,500 Volunteer Hours

We’ve had 17 volunteer crisis-response events with 400 volunteers working almost 1,550 hours. Activities included post-Tunnel Fire cleanup events, replenishing sandbags in Sunnyside, and a massive effort to help build a million new sandbags for anticipated flooding in the new burn scar areas.

We are very grateful to Little America for providing lunch for volunteers and Acts of Kindness that gave goodie bags to those who worked.

Some groups had specific days where their companies or organizations came out to work, including W.L. Gore & Associates, Nestle Purina (pictured above), the national Bike & Build organization, the Coconino County Facilities Department and Northern Arizona University. Alumni from Flagstaff High School, Coconino High School and the former Sinagua High School held reunion events around sandbag-building. Now that’s showing community and school spirit!

Speaking of schools, not everything was emergency related. There were 16 volunteers that pitched in a total of 27 hours to help out at the opening and closing events of this year’s KinderCamp™ program.

Two Upcoming Events –

Sandbag Building & Helping Neighbors in Pipeline West

But the work isn’t over here in northern Arizona. A persistent monsoon season keeps pouring and putting our neighbors at risk.

From 8 am to Noon tomorrow, August 19, join the Coconino County Sustainability Team and a group from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in building more sandbags. This is a continuing part of that unprecedented effort to build 1 million sandbags to protect homes in our region.

Then on Saturday, August 20 from 8 am to Noon, we’ll be heading over the Pipeline West flood area (specifically the Fort Valley 180 corridor) to assist residents with placing sandbags. Volunteers will be sent to properties identified by City of Flagstaff staff and there will be site-specific sandbag plans available.

Please check the Volunteer Hub calendar for both events. Participants need to be 18 years or older and we ask that you come to the orientation at 8 am and then stay for as long as you can.

If you don’t have time to spare for either of these worthy efforts this month, could we count on you to Step Up for Our Community with a donation to the United Way? Your dollars can be earmarked for our Crisis Response Fund or for programs like KinderCamp.