By The Chronicle Staff

If you've ever looked around your nonprofit, church or agency and thought, "If I only had a few extra hands, we could finally get this done," United Way of Logan County has good news for you.

The 11th Annual Community Care Day is fast approaching, and organizers are already assembling teams ready to lend their muscle, manpower and know-how to organizations throughout Logan County.

Last year, nearly 440 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to make a difference, tackling projects large and small. This year promises to be another day of neighbors helping neighbors in a big way.

Community Care Day will take place on Friday, Aug. 21, and organizations can request volunteer teams ranging in size from just two people to as many as 20.

So, what could your organization accomplish with a dedicated group of helpers for an entire day?

Maybe there's a room that desperately needs painting. Perhaps landscaping has been sitting on your wish list for years. Maybe you've dreamed of organizing storage spaces, tackling a deep cleaning project, assembling materials, distributing literature, or completing those small handyman repairs that never seem to make it to the top of the priority list.

Volunteers can assist with a variety of projects, including:

• Handyman and small construction projects

• Assembly-line projects

• Hanging posters and distributing literature

• Meal distribution and hands-on opportunities with clients

• Deep cleaning

• Painting

• Yard work and landscaping

• Sorting and moving materials

The key is planning ahead. Organizers encourage agencies to think creatively and think big. With enough advance notice, many projects that may seem out of reach could become a reality.

Organizations interested in participating should submit their project requests by July 24 to allow time for volunteer coordination.

As Community Care Day preparations continue, United Way is also gearing up for another important effort aimed at helping local students start the school year strong.

The annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive is returning, and United Way is inviting businesses and organizations to serve as collection sites once again.

Thanks to the generosity of community partners last year, hundreds of Logan County students headed into their classrooms equipped with the exact supplies they needed to succeed.

Collection bins and promotional posters will be delivered between July 20 and July 23, with donations accepted through Aug. 17. United Way staff will return on Aug. 17 to collect the donated items.

Serving as a collection site is simple. Businesses are asked to place a yellow collection bin in a visible location, encourage donations through social media or internal communications and help spread the word.

In return, United Way will recognize participating sites through press releases, newsletters, social media and photos, highlighting community involvement.

Both Community Care Day and Stuff the Bus are reminders that some of the most meaningful changes happen when a community decides to show up for one another.

Whether you have volunteers to give, a project waiting to be completed or a yellow bin ready to be filled, this is an opportunity to help make Logan County a little stronger — one helping hand, one backpack and one act of generosity at a time. ■