Paper or plastic?
Local residents will soon have the chance to pose that very question while helping out a worthwhile cause as the United Way of Elizabethton and Carter County once again hosts its annual grocery bagging fundraiser and awareness event.
“It’s basically encouraging shoppers on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to give to United Way,” said Josh McKinney, the Community Impact Coordinator for the local United Way.
This year, the event will be held on Nov. 22 at two local participating Food City — Elizabethton and Piney Flats. The hours for the Elizabethton store, located at 920 Broad Street, will be from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Hours for the event in Piney Flats will be from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Volunteers pledge their time for a minimum of one hour, but McKinney said volunteers can sign up for as many hours as they like throughout the day. Volunteers will need to show up 15 minutes prior to the start of their “shift” so they can receive their training.
“I need seven volunteers per hour — a greeter and six registers,” McKinney said. “I’d say right now we are about one-third staffed, maybe a little over one-third.”
This volunteer opportunity is open to adults and teenagers, McKinney said.
“The Boys and Girls Club is going to bring a group of their teenagers to help,” McKinney said. “It’s for anyone who wants to help.”
More volunteers are needed, and McKinney said the event can provide plenty of opportunities for fun while still helping raise funds and awareness about United Way and its community partner agencies.
“It’s a fun event. If you bring a team you can compete against each other,” he said. “You can get on the PA so if you’ve ever had the dream of talking over the PA at a grocery store, here is your chance.”
“Some of the teams get on the PA and challenge each other or encourage each other.”
For more information on the volunteer opportunity or to sign up for a time slot, contact Josh McKinney at 423-543-6975 or by email at director@uwayecc.org.