The 2^nd annual Team Honda Week of Service will kick off on June 9 with more than 20,000 volunteers and 450 service projects across North America.

Increased participation has resulted in a total of 318 Honda companies, dealers and suppliers working with 140 new organizations joining the event this year. In total, 206 dealers, 92 suppliers and 20 Honda companies will perform acts of service that range from food and blood drives to beach clean-ups and pet adoptions.

Matthew Robinson, a project manager for Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc., said that they expect outstanding results from their “Food for Thought” cereal drive for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

“Our volunteers are excited to see the impact this drive will have on the local children at the hospital,” said Robinson. “We always strive to empower and help give a better life to youth with disadvantages and disabilities whether it’s providing cereal or helping them play baseball with The Miracle League.”

Honda R&D Americas Inc. volunteers will focus on people with disabilities when they help them enjoy adventure sports at the Adaptive Sports Equipment Open House for The Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition in Powell, Ohio.

American Honda Finance Corporation offices in California, Texas and North Carolina will help the organization, “Blessings in a Backpack,” to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.

Honda of America Mfg., Inc. will transport dogs from the PAWS Animal Shelter in Urbana, Ohio, to the “Fetch A Friend” adoption event at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

Other projects include repackaging diapers, making blankets for children in need and restoring the home of a local veteran. The Tempe Honda dealership in Tempe, Ariz., will work with the Phoenix Heat Relief Network to collect cases of water to help the Salvation Army provide hydration for the local elderly, homeless and people with disabilities.

Shockley Honda in Frederick, Md., will build a Habitat for Humanity home and will assist with a golf tournament that benefits the local Boys and Girls Club. Kara Shaffer, marketing director for the dealer, said this is the first home build for most of their volunteers.

“Our biggest company philosophy is to give back to the community that supports us,” said Shaffer. “The Week of Service is especially exciting because it’s a chance for all of Honda to get together to give back. It also gives us a chance to feel connected to the larger Honda community.”

An online digital map will showcase Week of Service projects on csr.honda.com. Each point on the map will feature the company name, their location and project. Visitors will be able to view the different activities as a whole, by state or by organization type.

In addition, all participants have been invited to a “virtual kickoff ” at noon EDT June 9, when all participants will post about their events to help promote the beginning of this week-long event.

For continuous coverage of the week of service activities, check out our Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/HondaWeekofService/.