Volunteer registration for May 16 service day continues

There are hundreds of opportunities still available for those who want to participate in volunteer activities on the Monday, May 16 service day.

More than 100 UW–Madison faculty and staff members have already signed up to spend part of their final mandatory campus-wide furlough day on such volunteer activities as planting at the Allen Centennial Gardens, helping prepare for the Science Olympiad happening on campus and organizing at the River Food Pantry.

“Many more opportunities for volunteering have been added to the database since it was launched on April 18,” says Heather Daniels, chair of the Academic Staff Executive Committee. “I encourage everyone to browse for something that piques their interest.”

For a second year, a group of academic and classified staff is working to organize the day of service. It grew out of a resolution passed by the Academic Staff Assembly that encouraged academic staff to consider volunteering during the 16 unpaid days that all state employees were required to take under the two-year state budget that ends on June 30.

Last year, more than 200 people took part in community service projects across Dane County.

Those who want to participate this year may sign up through the Office of Human Resource Development here. Once registered, volunteers can access a database of available opportunities for the day through the United Way of Dane County and register for projects.

Two- or three-hour shifts continue to be available at a variety of activities. Other opportunities including working at Lakeshore Nature Preserve, readying prizes for the Madison Public Library summer reading program for young people, cleaning up the East Madison Community Center or Ronald McDonald House, removing invasive species from Dane County parks and helping distribute food for the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, among other activities.

Those who arrange their own volunteer work may also take part.

Registration ends on Thursday, May 12.