MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — UPS employees across Canada are rolling up their brown sleeves to do a lot more than deliver packages in October. Throughout the month, UPS employees will participate in the company’s Global Volunteer Month, giving their time, talents and hands-on support to charitable organizations in their local communities.

Since 2003, UPS has designated a week in October as Global Volunteer Week. This year, the week has been extended to a full month to enable more employees to participate. These volunteer efforts extend beyond Canada, with UPS employees participating in the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Since the program began, the number of employee volunteers has grown from 1,000 in 2003, to more than 30,000 expected to participate worldwide this year.

“UPS employees are encouraged to volunteer throughout the year, but during Global Volunteer Month there is a concentrated effort to engage as many volunteers as possible,” says UPS Canada president Mike Tierney. “If you can get a person to come out just once and volunteer, they will experience first-hand the power of giving back; then you’ve helped create a volunteer for life.”

UPS employees choose their own volunteer projects to support in addition to those set up by designated UPS team leaders, who coordinate volunteer opportunities for employees to attend. These activities include a variety of projects from handing out food to the homeless and at food banks, to landscaping for daycare centres and schools, to reading with children.

“This year we are emphasizing environmental efforts,” Tierney explains. “We are encouraging employees to participate in projects such as litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling and landscape beautification. The most effective environmental project also will be recognized with a $10,000 grant.”

UPS’s Global Volunteer Month is one of the many examples of the company’s long-standing commitment to volunteerism. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen. Whether through involvement with United Way, The UPS Foundation or volunteerism, UPS provides assistance to programs that address social and community issues including education, poverty, homelessness, hunger, illness and unemployment.

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation’s major initiatives include programs that support increased global volunteerism, literacy and hunger relief. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact.

In 2007, The UPS Foundation donated more than $46 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS’s community involvement.