United Way Volusia-Flagler Counties Organizes Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Jan. 16, 2018 - PRLog -- On Jan. 15, the United Way Volusia-Flagler Counties organized a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in a collective effort to beautify Hope Place, a Daytona Beach homeless shelter for families run by Halifax Urban Ministries.

A total of 92 volunteers from all over Volusia County worked together to complete landscaping and painting. Volunteers were from various groups including: Atlantic High School Baseball team, Publix Supermarkets, Christ Presbyterian Youth Group 412, Target, the City of New Smyrna Beach, Women United Volusia, Bethune-Cookman University, and the United Way's Millennial Project.

"The outpouring of volunteers was overwhelming," said Cindy Endara, resource development manager for the United Way and one of the organizers of the event.

Hope Place offers a fresh start for families with children that have been displaced from their homes and a new beginning for a former elementary school to once again help children and the community. The shelter serving homeless families, which is a conversion of the old Hurst Elementary School to a family center, is expected to open later this month.

"It was a great experience to explain to the younger volunteers about Hope Place and how their actions today would impact the lives of others," said Robin Lasky, director of development for Halifax Urban Ministries. "Halifax Urban Ministries is so thankful to the United Way for coordinating this day of service."

The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties partners with organizations in the two-county area to coordinate and connect willing volunteers with community projects.

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The United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties improves lives and builds a stronger community by bringing together hearts, minds and resources from across the region and by developing effective partnerships with businesses, government and nonprofit organizations. Each year the United Way holds a fundraising campaign to help fund 30 programs from 22 local partner agencies. For more information, please visit the http://www.unitedwayvfc.org or call 2-1-1 (386-253-0564)  if you or someone you know needs help or wants to learn how to Give, Advocate, or Volunteer.