United Way of Cayuga County's November calendar includes a youth T-shirt design deadline, Thanksgiving meal sign-ups and an Auburn holiday open house Nov. 28.
The organization is also highlighting volunteer opportunities, family feedback projects and member-agency job listings as residents head into the holiday season.
Youth designs due Nov. 20
Students in grades four through 12 who live in or attend school in Cayuga County can enter a contest to design the official 2027 Day of Caring T-shirt.
Entries must be hand-drawn, black-and-white line drawings submitted by Friday, Nov. 20. A community vote will select the design for the shirt and promotional materials.
Drawings and a completed submission form can be scanned and emailed to Shelly Norton at snorton@unitedwayofcayugacounty.org or dropped off at United Way, 2 State St., Suite 2, Auburn. The form and details are on the organization's Day of Caring page.
Holiday open house and Sunday diner benefit
United Way will participate in the Auburn Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 28. Student United Way will offer free hot cocoa during the downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
An open house at United Way's office at 2 State St. will follow the festivities, giving residents a chance to meet the staff and learn about programs. Details are on the United with Gratitude page.
Cook's Village Diner in Weedsport will donate a percentage of proceeds to United Way every Sunday in November. The diner is at 8991 N. Seneca St. and is open Sundays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the benefit announcement.
November learning, assistance and broadcast dates
- Nov. 6: Families Together in New York State will offer a free virtual lunch-and-learn session, “5 Strength-Based Ways to Build Trust With Families,” from noon to 1 p.m. The session is for providers working with children, youth and families.
- Nov. 12: The Salvation Army's Thanksgiving meal sign-up period ends.
- Nov. 18: A new Cayuga Connections episode is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Spectrum channels 12 and 98 and Fios channel 31.
- Nov. 19: Aurora's virtual vision-loss support group will meet on Zoom from 6:30 to 8 p.m. No November in-person meeting is scheduled.
- Nov. 25: Lisa Kaminski and Paul Szmal's radio interview is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. on WAUB, 96.3 FM and 1590 AM, with a gratitude theme.
Families can share feedback through Dec. 1
Cayuga Thrives' Parent & Youth Voice Project is gathering feedback from parents, caregivers, youth and young adults about their experiences, strengths and challenges in Cayuga County.
Participation is voluntary, and the project says responses are confidential. The feedback period runs through Dec. 1, 2026.
Questions can go to lead family coordinator Sumner Youngs at 315-766-0632 or syoungs@ftnys.org. The project flyer provides separate survey links for parents and caregivers and for youth and young adults.
The calendar also links to a Cayuga Thrives survey about learning opportunities.
Girl Scout troops, volunteering and jobs
The newsletter lists new Girl Scout troops in Auburn, Moravia and Weedsport. Auburn troop 40348, for kindergarten and first grade, has a Nov. 3 meeting listed from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m. downtown.
Auburn troop 40329, for first and second grades, and Moravia troop 40355, for second and third grades, list biweekly Thursday meetings from 6 to 7 p.m. A Weedsport kindergarten troop, 40366, lists tentative Tuesday meetings from 6 to 7 p.m.
Families can contact membership manager Sabrina Clemens at 315-501-2990 or sclemens@gsnypenn.org for meeting locations and details.
Volunteer Cayuga connects residents with local opportunities and events and lets volunteers track their hours.
United Way also lists multiple openings through Hospice of the Finger Lakes and Auburn YMCA-WEIU, along with a Mozaic investigator position. Applicants should consult the employers' listings for requirements and current availability.
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