Nearly 5,000 Comcast employees call Washington our home, and we’re asking our family, friends, co-workers and neighbors to join us on May 4 this year in giving our communities through the state a helping hand. Our volunteer portal that enables you to sign up for projects throughout Washington will be available is available now at www.comcastinthecommunity.com. More than 3,000 Comcast employees, along with their families, friends and community partners, contributed to 27 different volunteer projects across Washington last year as part of Comcast Cares Day.
More than half of the projects directly supported those living without shelter or who are in transitional housing. For example, Comcast volunteers sorted donations at the Everett Food Bank, renovated the Mary’s Place shelter in Seattle, packed hygiene kits for Spokane’s Union Gospel Mission Crisis Shelter for Women and Children and craft blankets for the Tacoma Rescue Mission, among other projects across the state.
Why homelessness?
Comcast Cares Day will address the pressing issue of homelessness again this year because it impacts nearly every community in the state. According to 2017 figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, King County’s homeless population is the third largest in the U.S. Out of an estimated 11,643 homeless people, 47.1 percent are unsheltered, meaning they live in a vehicle, tent or on the street. This is a 21 percent increase over 2016 figures that is only expected to grow in 2018 due to the rising cost of living.
Why Participate in Comcast Cares Day?
Because you can help the neighborhoods where you live, work and play in Washington. Last year’s Comcast Cares Day included volunteer projects in Aberdeen, Auburn, Bellingham, Bremerton, Everett, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Olympia, Puyallup, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and more. With nearly 30 Comcast Cares Day projects expect in Washington this year, chances are that there will be one near you. And, many of this year’s projects in Washington will be in partnership with local organizations working to meet these community members’ basic needs and help them get back on their feet.
And according to a December 2018 article in Help Guide, giving to others makes you healthier and happier. Volunteering connects you to others, is good for your mind and body, can advance your career and brings fun and fulfillment to your life. The article states: “Volunteering offers vital help to people in need, worthwhile causes, and the community, but the benefits can be even greater for you, the volunteer.
Volunteering and helping others can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and improve your health and happiness.
About 2019 Comcast Cares Day
Comcast Cares Day is our company’s celebration of that commitment to giving back each and every day of the year. Since 2001, more than one million volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to revitalize neighborhoods and parks, assemble care packages for families in need, host coding workshops and more, all as part of Comcast Cares Day.
On Saturday, May 4th, volunteers will make change happen again through the support of our community partners nationwide, as well as our employees and their friends and families. In 2018, more than 115,000 people pitched in at more than 1,200 projects across 23 countries. This would not have been possible without the participation of our partners who managed projects and brought together additional members of the community.
Be a part of one of the nation’s largest corporate volunteer efforts, and sign up for Comcast Cares Day on May 4th through our volunteer portal at www.comcastinthecommunity.com.
