Day of Caring is Greater Buffalo’s largest organized volunteer event. Each year, thousands of volunteers take to the streets in order to help out this region’s non-profit community. By alleviating some ancillary work that is not necessarily tied to the mission of a non-profit organization, the non-profit is then able to concentrate on its primary goals. For example, if helping to paint the exterior of an organization allows employees to save time and money on contracting the service or performing the duties in-house, that means that there will be more resources available to conduct crucial programming.
What’s even neater about the Day of Caring campaign is that Buffalo companies actually share their staff to make all of this happen. In 2016, 3,300 volunteers from 145 companies will aid 122 non-profits. That’s a lot of people power!
Companies and their employees benefit from participating by learning more about their community, having the opportunity to work together and to contribute to organizations that strengthen the community.
Day of Caring is orchestrated by the United Way as a city-wide community service event. Some of the wide-ranging duties include painting, gardening, cleaning, chaperoning, and reading to children.
PROJECTS: Among the many and varied projects are:
- Rocket decorating and kite flying with children at Child & Family Services of Erie County.
- “Big for a Day” Volunteers will be paired with a child in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to enjoy games, crafts and snacks together.
- Painting, gardening and Club House “Spruce Up” at a number of Boys & Girls Club locations.
- Weeding, clean-up and general gardening assistance at various Grassroots Gardens locations.
- Cleaning and maintenance of the Durham Baby Cafe at Central City Cafe
- Cleaning and brightening Belmont Housing Resources for WNY Artspace and Main Street properties.
- Hanging, tagging, stocking and creating displays of goods for the Buffalo City Mission thrift store.
- Picking up litter near Scajaquada Creek with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper.
- Filling gift bags for Catholic Charities of Buffalo’s Christmas for the Homebound program.
Day of Caring
Wednesday, August 17, throughout the day (primarily 9 AM – noon)
- 8 AM: A kick off event for all volunteers at First Niagara Center, including a breakfast and rally, followed by transportation to volunteer sites
- 9 AM: Volunteers arrive and begin projects
- Noon (Approximately): A complimentary lunch, entertainment and volunteer fair for all participants at the First Niagara Center after projects are completed
GEICO, GM Foundation/GMPowertrain/UAW, HSBC, National Grid and Wegmans are sponsors of the event and will have company teams participating in community service projects throughout the day.
Stay tuned to United Way’s Day of Caring by clicking here.