Community Projects

More than a quarter of Delaware County households live one crisis away from falling into poverty. These working families (or ALICE – Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) face daily obstacles hindering their health, education, and financial stability.

Your participation in one of the following activities will support United Way’s commitment to improve the lives and futures of ALICE families across our community.

Register to Volunteer

Projects happening before September 6

Bring unused personal hygiene products (e.g. travel shampoos, soap, body wash, toothpaste) to share with local shelters and schools. Collection sites will be available August 16 – September 3 at the following locations:

  • Atrium food court (entrance near bookstore)
  • Administration Building, Room 326
  • Alumni Center
  • E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
  • Robert Bell Building (lobby)
  • Pittenger Student Center, north entrance

  • Showalter Building (Facilities Planning and Management Office)
  • Teachers College (main entrance near the elevators)
  • West Quad Building (Room 203)

List of Items needed
Please provide new, not used items. Bold = most needed

  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Toiletries
  • Toothpaste/toothbrushes
  • Soap
  • Razors
  • Underwear/undergarments
  • Clean socks
  • Water bottle
  • Gift certificate to fast food
  • Hand wipes
  • Pack of Kleenex
  • Maxi pads
  • Nail clippers
  • Band aids
  • Chap stick
  • Comb or small brush
  • Mints, cough drops or gum

Donate gently used books for all ages to help stock more than 35 Little Free Libraries in Delaware County. Collection boxes will be available August 16 – September 3 at the following locations:

  • Atrium food court (entrance near bookstore)
  • Administration Building, Room 326
  • Alumni Center
  • E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
  • Robert Bell Building (lobby)
  • Pittenger Student Center, north entrance
  • Showalter Building (Facilities Planning and Management office)
  • Teachers College (main entrance near the elevators)
  • West Quad Building (Room 203)

Put together personal hygiene kits, to be distributed by local shelters and schools and make inspirational bookmarks for books that will go into Muncie’s Little Free Libraries.

  • Time commitment: Thursday, September 5 from 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • Project will take place in the Atrium dining area

For the 2024 United Way Day of Action, the Miller College of Business is sponsoring sack lunches for the Muncie Soup Kitchen. To encourage the recipients of the sack lunches, please join us to decorate one or more sacks with inspiring quotes, beautiful pictures, or fun designs. Supplies to decorate the sacks will be provided. The sacks will be used to bag the lunches, which will be prepared at a later date by the staff of Allègre.

  • Because of your generosity and thoughtfulness, we can make a positive impact on addressing food insecurity and lifting up those in need!
  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes to 30 minutes (depending on how many bags you select or how detailed you want to decorate them)
  • Time Frame:
    • Thursday, Sept. 5: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    • Friday, Sept. 6: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Location: Student/Vending Lounge on the first floor of the Whitinger Building (WB)
On-Campus Projects on September 6

Assemble 200 literacy kits – including a free children’s book, craft ideas and supplies, and other resources – to help kick-start reading and learning at home for families.

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour between Noon – 2 p.m.
  • What to Wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • Project will take place at Emens

Assemble over 1,000 snack packs for local elementary schools to distribute to kids who rely on school meals and snacks for basic nutrition.

  • Time commitment: One hour between 9-11 a.m.
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • Project will take place at Emens

For the 2024 United Way Day of Action, the Miller College of Business is sponsoring sack lunches for the Muncie Soup Kitchen. To encourage the recipients of the sack lunches, please join us to decorate one or more sacks with inspiring quotes, beautiful pictures, or fun designs. Supplies to decorate the sacks will be provided. The sacks will be used to bag the lunches, which will be prepared at a later date by the staff of Allègre.

  • Because of your generosity and thoughtfulness, we can make a positive impact on addressing food insecurity and lifting up those in need!
  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes to 30 minutes (depending on how many bags you select or how detailed you want to decorate them)
  • Time Frame:
    • Thursday, Sept. 5: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
    • Friday, Sept. 6: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Location: Student/Vending Lounge on the first floor of the Whitinger Building (WB)

Help put together informational packets for Retirees to provide the opportunity of participating in the 2024 Ball State United Way Campaign. This is a great project if you are short on time during the Day of Action, but still want to do some very simple, yet extremely helpful, envelope stuffing during your lunch break.

  • Time commitment: Minimum 30 mins – Maximum 2 hours, between 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt
  • Project will take place in Bracken Library Meeting Room 1 (L82A) on the lower level

Knot fleece blankets for children/teens. Items will be donated to local shelters. No experience necessary.

  • Time commitment: One hour. 10 a.m.- 11 a.m or 1 p.m - 2 p.m
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • Project will take place at Emens
Off-Campus Projects on September 6

Join a “pop-up” reader team and read to children at a local daycare. Volunteers will be paired up and assigned to a daycare; each volunteer will read one or two books (provided) and donate them to the daycare. Training is provided.

  • Time commitment: Half-hour training and resource pick up at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 6
    • Lucina Hall, 220
  • Daycare reading at approximately 10-10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 6
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • Transportation will be on your own

Volunteers will be helping clean up the facility from Summer Camps and to prepare for the school year. Volunteers will be cleaning out gutters, raking up leaves, and cleaning up the trails and ropes courses. Camp Adventure is a program of Muncie Community Schools that brings children outside to learn about science and literacy. Ball State University partners with Camp Adventure to bring learning and fun to children at this amazing outdoor learning facility.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring closed toe shoes, comfortable clothing, and sunglasses. Bug spray, sunscreen, gloves, bottled water, and all tools necessary for the job will be provided. If volunteers have small hands and would like to bring their own gloves, that would be encouraged.

  • Time commitment: 9 a.m-noon
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, closed toe shoes/comfortable clothing
  • What to bring: Sunglasses
  • Transportation: Transportation on your own: Camp Adventure, 4881 S CR 325 W, Muncie

The Cardinal Greenway provides more than 60 miles of paved trail for healthy outdoor activity. Tasks will include various activities such as, trash pickup, cleaning, painting benches, etc. at one of numerous sites along the greenway.

  • Time commitment: Half day, 9 a.m.-noon -OR- 1-4 p.m.
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • What to bring: Water, sunscreen, and gloves
  • Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to the Cardinal Greenway Depot, 700 E. Wysor Street, Muncie (possibly other entry sites along the Greenway)

Help to increase the attractiveness of our local dog park. Volunteers will help paint dog toys for the smaller dog park. In addition, we will freshen up planters and pick up trash in the neighborhood surrounding the park. The dog park is a walkable distance from campus, behind Fraternity Row.

  • Time commitment: Half day, 9 a.m.-noon
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
  • What to bring: Water and sunscreen
  • Transportation: On your own – you can walk the short distance from campus or drive.

We need Little Free Librarians to gather a box of donated books (OW 119) and then go to one/or two (locations will be assigned to you) to clean and stock the Little Free Library and/or Book Nook.

  • Time commitment: Minimum 30 mins – Maximum 2 hours, between 11:30am and 1:30pm
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt
  • Project will start at the Oakwood Building, room 119 and then you will be given directions to your Little Free Library/Book Nook

Muncie Mission provides compassionate relief leading to life transformation to men, women, and families in need through shelter, food and resource assistance, addiction recovery, and medical treatment. Tasks may include landscaping, painting, sorting and organizing food and clothing donations, and cleaning projects.

  • Time commitment: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. with a lunch break (be our guest for lunch, the food is great)
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt and comfortable pants or shorts and close toed shoes
  • What to bring: Water, sunscreen, work gloves
  • Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their transportation to Muncie Mission, 1725 S. Liberty St., Muncie, IN 47302

Recovery Cafe Muncie provides a safe, inclusive space in downtown Muncie for individuals who are in recovery from whatever is causing trauma in their lives: from substance misuse to homelessness to grief and loss, we welcome everyone to join our community of healing. Volunteer tasks include various activities such as organizing our closet & pantry, office and documentation organization, kitchen and cafe cleaning.

  • Time commitment: 9 a.m.-noon or 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
  • What to wear: Your 2024 United Way Day of Action shirt, casual clothing
  • Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to Recovery Cafe Muncie: 201 E Charles St, lower level, Muncie
United Way Sponsored Projects (Registration Below)

Morning 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
5-12 Volunteers Needed
1701 Pilgrim Blvd, Yorktown, IN  47396
Create sensory friendly “fidget sleeves” for our neighbors living with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s.  Participants will create fidget sleeves with buttons, snaps, and other items that can help reduce feelings of anxiety or restlessness.

Register

Afternoon 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
5-8 Volunteers Needed
413 S. Tillotson Ave, Unit 9, Muncie, IN  47304
Assemble care packages for cancer patients through Indiana, this include making No Sew fleece blankets.  Each bag includes items that cancer patients have indicated have brough much comfort to them. From lotion, to playing cards, back scratchers and word games to the blanket

Register

Afternoon 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
2-5 Volunteers Needed
1110 W. 10th Street, Muncie, IN  47302
Help unload Second Harvest Food Bank truck, distribute food to boxes, and pass out to neighbors in the community in need of food.

Register

Both Morning 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. & Afternoon 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lunch is Provided
5-15 Volunteers Needed
6621 N. Old SR 3, Muncie, IN
Organize donated items including clothes, household goods, baby items, and holiday decorations into easily navigable “shoppable” categories. This will facilitate the distribution process, allowing agency partners to efficiently order and obtain the items they need.

Register

Morning 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
1-14 Volunteers Needed
312 S. Vine St., Muncie, IN  47305
(On Vine Street between Adams and Charles, 2 blocks east of McDonalds on Madison)
Spend the morning in a classroom (Infant, Toddler, or Preschool).  Interact with children during their morning routine (greet upon arrival, assist with breakfast, read and interact during learning centers, play outside with children). Children need individual attention and having volunteers in addition to educators provides more one on one attention to the children.

Register

Both Morning 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. & Afternoon 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lunch is Provided
5-6 Volunteers Needed
310 E. Charles Street, Muncie, IN  47305
Help the YWCA beautify their space.  Volunteers will paint swing sets and trim shrubs.  Wear clothing that is “dirt and paint ready”.

Register

Frequently Asked Questions

Faculty, professional, service, and staff employees may participate.

Yes. You will be paid for the time you normally would have been scheduled to work.

There are opportunities to volunteer virtually or on your own.

Employees must obtain pre-approval from their supervisor and include the time or hours you would like to volunteer. The request and approval must be in writing (email is OK) and your supervisor should retain the document in their payroll audit files.

Once you receive your supervisor’s approval, please complete our online registration form.

Supervisors are encouraged to allow employees to participate. However, the supervisor must ensure that there is appropriate staffing to meet the needs of the organization.

Non-Exempt (hourly)

If you are a non-exempt (hourly paid), clock out for the time that you are volunteering (this includes travel time). You or your supervisor will add the pay code “Volunteer Pay” in UKG. As an employee, you can enter the Volunteer Pay directly on your timecard via a timecard edit or a time off request (both will go into a pending status until approved by your supervisor). As a supervisor, you can add the Volunteer Pay directly to the employee’s timecard. This process mirrors how you handle other paid time off such as sick, vacation, PTO, etc.

For example, if Mary is volunteering from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and leaved at 8:30 AM and returns at 1130 AM, she would clock out at 8:00 AM, clock back in at 11:30 AM, and then at 3 hours of “Volunteer Pay” in UKG.

Exempt (Salaried)

If  you are exempt (salaried), the hours spent volunteering should also be coded as “Volunteer Pay” in UKG.  Unlike sick and vacation that are reported in half or full day increments, “Volunteer Pay” is entered in increments of 15 minutes.

For example, if Mary spends 2.5 hours preforming volunteer work, she would add a line in UKG with 2.5 hours of Volunteer Pay.

Please keep a copy of your employee’s request to participate in the Day of Action along with your approval of the request. If your employee submitted a Kronos Adjustment Form, please keep this document for three years.

If you have questions regarding volunteer opportunities, please contact the Office of Community Engagement.

For information regarding Ball State University volunteer activities and related record keeping policies, please contact Kate Stoss in Human Resources.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Community Engagement.