United Way of South Texas has announced that the week of April 10-16, 2016, (Sunday through Saturday) will be Volunteer South Texas Week 2016, a week to showcase to the world the many ways South Texans passionately serve in their communities!

Last October, United Way of South Texas launched Volunteer South Texas (volunteersotx.org), a FREE "one-stopshop" for potential volunteers to connect with non-profit agencies, schools, and governmental institutions in our communities.

This website is a new opportunity to connect volunteers with meaningful service projects right here in Hidalgo and Starr Counties of South Texas. Over 60 non-profit agencies, schools, and governmental institutions have already signed up on Volunteer South Texas and are now able to easily advertise volunteer opportunities, in-kind needs, and special events to our communities.

Potential community volunteers can now browse what needs exist and then register to volunteer to fill a specific need and/or to be automatically notified when volunteer opportunities arise around their passions. Registration can even be done right on your smartphone!

To celebrate Volunteer South Texas Week 2016, over the next couple of months, non-profit agencies, schools and governmental institutions throughout South Texas will post needs for volunteers specifically for the week of April 10-16. United Way of South Texas will publicize the week's opportunities for service.

Volunteers will then click on the "Respond" button on Volunteer South Texas on the opportunity in which they want to serve and the individual agencies will contact each volunteer to schedule the specific tasks needed that week. T-shirts will be given to all participants in the week's service projects who have signed up through Volunteer South Texas. McAllen Mayor Jim Darling (our Honorary Volunteer South Texas Week 2016 Chairman) and the mayors of many of the communities in Hidalgo and Starr Counties will lead us as we serve at food pantries, in after school programs, or at a beach cleanup (examples only).

Once the week's activities are completed, we'll tabulate the number of volunteers that served in our communities, the number of hours served, and the value to our communities from this week of volunteer service.

Make plans to join us April 10-16, 2016, for Volunteer South Texas Week 2016! Check back on Volunteer South Texas volunteersotx.org often and reserve your spot at a community agency near you!