Hundreds of community volunteers recently came together to work on 33 service projects at 25 Henderson County nonprofit agencies as part of United Way of Henderson County’s annual Days of Caring.
A second day of projects will continue on Saturday, May 11. Projects include landscaping at a Habitat for Humanity home, renovating the playground at Safelight, organizing the Etowah Fishes and Loaves food pantry, assisting with the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, and many more.
“This annual event does so much good for our local nonprofit agencies,” said Denise Cumbee Long, Executive Director of United Way of Henderson County. “The hard work of hundreds of volunteers makes an incredible impact.” These two days of service are not possible without the help of 418 volunteers who are donating 1,672 hours to make their local community a better place. Their time and effort equates to a contribution of $42,519 and makes a significant impact.
Leaders of local nonprofits praised the event as a time when they are able to stretch resources and benefit from the goodwill of generous volunteers. Council on Aging’s Executive Director Trina Stokes said, “It means so much to the Council on Aging to see the outpouring of support to complete vital tasks for our organization. Today, volunteers were able to experience the joy of bringing a warm meal to homebound seniors and also put their creative talents to work at our thrift stores. Without volunteers, we would not be able to support the more than 500 seniors who rely on our programs. Thank you to the United Way and all of those who took the time out of their busy schedules to make a huge impact in Henderson County today.”
“WNC Bridge Foundation is thrilled to be sponsoring United Way of Henderson County’s 2019 Days of Caring,” said Scott Buchanan, President and CEO of WNC Bridge Foundation. “This special event helps WNC Bridge Foundation fulfill our goal of being a catalyst for change in Western North Carolina by eliminating barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential. Days of Caring makes a real and immediate difference in the lives of many Henderson County residents, and I applaud United Way and their dedicated volunteers for making this event a success for the entire community.” Additional sponsorships for Days of Caring are provided by Current Powered by GE, Duke Energy, Tom and Sue Fazio, and PEPSI.
“Many organizations and individuals will benefit from the work that local volunteers accomplish Friday and Saturday. We want to thank everyone who is helping this weekend,” said Long. “We are so grateful for these generous folks who are showing how much they care about our community!”
For those wishing to find ongoing volunteer opportunities, Long suggests visiting www.volunteerhendo.org, United Way’s year round online volunteer matching program.