FARMINGTON — September has been named a Month of Caring in Greater Franklin County by the Franklin Volunteer Network.

It is an effort to celebrate volunteerism by encouraging residents to give back to their community through helping area nonprofit organizations and community groups. A variety of volunteer opportunities have been developed through the network, which will record the number of hours completed and the impact on the community, said Lisa Park Laflin of the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area.

Those range from assisting the United Way with a school supplies drive to working with University of Maine at Farmington students on 20 projects as part of UMF’s volunteer Saturdays, or helping at the Double B Equine Rescue Farm, local food pantries and other social service organizations.

The efforts can be as little or as much as an individual wants to give, Laflin said. New volunteer opportunities are being developed and are posted on the United Way Web site, www.uwtva.org

“The Month of Caring is an opportunity to bring together all community members in a collaborative effort to give back to others and improve our region,” said Becky Perkins, assistant director of residence life at UMF and a Franklin Volunteer Network member.

Many of the United Way partners have opportunities to help with specific tasks as well as with schools and local organizations. A complete listing of contact people and phone numbers can be found on the Web site under volunteer opportunities or volunteers can contact the United Way at 778-5048 to participate. Additions are being made to the list, so people may want to continue reviewing the Web site, she said.

The Franklin Volunteer Network was started 15 years ago through the efforts of former SAD 9 volunteer coordinator Betsy O’Donal and Dawn Girardin. They brought folks together to serve the community, Laflin said. Mt. Blue Regional School District volunteer coordinator Pauline Rodrigue continued the group, although there have been some interim breaks along the way.

“I believe in the power of volunteering, and it’s at the root of the United Way’s interests of giving, advocating and volunteering. So it made sense when I began my tenure here as the executive director to give it an energy boost,” Laflin said. “It has the same name but new energy and some new people who are building on a tradition of good ideas.”

The collaborative group meets monthly to offer trainings, research volunteer impact on communities and develop a system for connecting volunteers to service. Participants include SeniorsPlus, SAVES, UMF, United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, Community Concepts and more than 20 other organizations.

Giving a whole month’s attention to volunteering helps inventory what is available and connects people to those opportunities, she said.

A volunteer celebration will be held in October when the number of hours and community impact will be shared.

The group has received funding from the Maine Community Foundation and the Maine Commission for Community Service. Funds will help provide items such as volunteer gifts, an ice cream social, advertising and promotion costs, training and the purchase of books and videos that will become a volunteer library. It all goes back into the community, she said.

For more information on ways to serve the community in September, visit www.uwtva.org or call 778-5048.

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