Salisbury, MD: The City of Salisbury is partnering with United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore and their Get Connected Volunteer Center to help recruit, organize and activate over 800 volunteers at next year’s National Folk Festival in Downtown Salisbury September 7-9, 2018.
“Not only can our local citizens enjoy this incredibly unique and joyous festival, but they can also be a proud part of it. Salisbury is going to shine in September and it will be because of the strength of our community to come together,” says Caroline O’Hare, Local Manager for the National Folk Festival.
For those interested in becoming a National Folk Festival Volunteer, they may sign up at www.ShoreGetConnected.org
As the Festival approaches, specific duties and volunteer tasks will be posted and assigned using the Get Connected Volunteer Center website, and volunteers will be able to track hours and see the impact of their time using the free tool.
All National Folk Festival volunteers will make great memories and enjoy more than a few pleasant surprises. At the end of the day, volunteers will go home with a free T-shirt and the undying gratitude of Festival attendees and organizers. Average volunteer shifts are expected to be two to three hours, and volunteers may sign up for multiple shifts throughout the Festival. This will also be a great opportunity for groups such as corporate or civic teams to engage in volunteerism together.
“Volunteerism provides so much more than a just a helping hand – for the Volunteer it not only provides an opportunity to be engaged in the community, but allows him or her to learn new skills, meet new people and become inspired to stay involved. For local organizations, volunteers provide valuable time, talent and energy to meet a common goal. With the upcoming Festival, this will be an exciting and unique opportunity to bring our community together in a big way and offer an enriching and positive experience for the tens of thousands of artists, attendees and visitors,” shares Pam Gregory, Community Impact Director for United Way.
The Festival will also provide great opportunities for Students to become involved and earn service learning hours. Volunteers will need to be at least 12 years of age, and will require parent consent and/or supervision, with requirements posted as applicable for specific positions.
GET CONNECTED is United Way’s free online tool connecting community members and organizations with resources, local needs, special events and a variety of opportunities for individuals and groups to volunteer. As the official volunteer center for Maryland’s Lower Shore, designated by the Governor’s Office for Service & Volunteerism, United Way is helps local organizations and community members make a positive impact together. Visit www.ShoreGetConnected.org to explore ways to Get Connected and make a difference.
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The City of Salisbury, MD is the host city for the 2018-2020 National Folk Festival, the oldest multi-cultural traditional arts celebration in the country. This large scale, three-day outdoor event is free to the public and will introduce audiences to some of the best talent from throughout North America.
United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore is a local, independent, non-profit organization established in 1944. For over 70 years, our United Way has focused on improving the lives of our neighbors in need in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset, and Dorchester Counties. The organization, which is the largest non-governmental source of funding for area nonprofit agencies, provides support for 80 different local programs with a special focus on Education, Financial Stability and Health. In the last year, United Way has impacted the lives of over 82,000 people on the Lower Shore by investing over $1.4 million in programs serving the Lower Eastern Shore.
