Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
The old saying “Actions speak louder than words” has much meaning, especially in small communities such as Craig County, where people rely on one another.
On Wednesday, June 21, the “United Way Day of Action” will take place, initiated by the United Way of Roanoke Valley and a group of Craig County community stakeholders.
“On and around June 21, thousands of people across the globe take action to improve their communities by volunteering with United Way,” shared Leslie Clark, director family health strategies with United Way. “In 37 countries and territories across the world, United Way creates meaningful volunteering opportunities – both virtual and in-person – that make it easy for people and organizations to tackle some of the toughest problems facing communities.”
Clark shared that the United Way has been working in Craig County over the last few years, including the Craig County Child Care Center assistance through early learning strategies initiatives, COVID information and the remembrance event through their Healthy Roanoke Valley initiative.
“Our work with community stakeholders has given them the opportunity to voice particular needs for the Craig County community,” Clark said. “Impacting these voiced needs are how we developed the projects we plan to carry out on Wednesday June 21 with the help of Craig County volunteers.
We plan to do ongoing work to support Craig County.”
“We have volunteers from our community that will be at the Field of Dreams weeding around the sign, building a ramp to a shed, and clearing weeds to the river so kayaks can have access to Craig’s Creek,” Pat Franklin, director I of Craig County DSS shared. “We also have Feeding SWVA providing 300 healthy food boxes to citizens in Craig between 1pm and 3pm in the parking lot beside the New Christian Church.”
They also shared that distribution boxes have been placed around town to collect food that will be gathered on June 21 and divided between DSS food pantry and the New Christian Church pantry.
There will also be a lunch and a speaker/volunteer rally at 11:30 a.m. at New Christian Church.
Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative is a sponsor and will be speaking.
Also, the United Way representatives will be speaking to the participating volunteers and local government officials have been invited to the lunch.
The community is encouraged to share this information and to pick up a food box between 1pm and 3 p.m. at the New Castle Christian Church. The boxes will be given out until they run out, a first come, first serve basis.
