The United Way of Southeast Missouri is inviting the community to join them in thanking workers and volunteers who have helped during the COVID-19 crisis through their “Give United Car Parade.”
Individuals, families, or businesses must register to participate, and are asked to make car signs thanking workers in healthcare, grocery stores, transportation, nonprofits, trash collection, first responders, banks, volunteers, teachers, and any employees in essential service industries. The car parade will cruise by Cape Girardeau elementary schools, hospitals, grocery stores, gas stations, and police/fire stations. A route and estimated times will be posted on the United Way’s Facebook page.
Those interested in participating should meet at the Osage Center in Cape Girardeau at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5. Members of the public are encouraged to share photos of their signs and car decorations with the hashtag #GiveUnitedCarParade. This event will be held in rain or shine and will not have a police escort, so all traffic laws must be obeyed. Everyone must remain in their vehicles before, during, and after the car parade.
To register, visit: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/3254905/false#/invitation
Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/233776977966754/
This event will also be used to celebrate #GivingTuesdayNow, a movement launched by the same organization in charge of Giving Tuesday normally celebrated in December. Nonprofits around the globe will use this day to emphasize the need for donations, as will United Way. At the start of the pandemic, the United Way developed a COVID-19 fund to help people financially impacted by shutdowns and layoffs in the southeast Missouri region. Currently, the fund has more than $55,000 from individuals and corporations including Procter & Gamble, Mondi Jackson, and Schnucks. Donations to the UWSEMO COVID-19 fund can be made at: www.unitedwayofsemo.org.