United Way kicks off campaign with Day of Caring

Friday, September 25, 2015

Ki Matlock from the College of Education with a LIFE Adult Day Center client

The Stillwater Area United Way kicked off its campaign Sept. 17 with the 20th annual Day of Caring.

Day of Caring consists of volunteers from across the community banding together to help United Way partner agencies. This year 425 volunteers worked on 110 projects at 20 partner agencies and homes of Mobile Meals clients. The projects were wide-ranging, but painting was the most common task— volunteers used 99 gallons of paint in one day.

Sheri Carter, Stillwater Area United Way executive director, said there were more volunteers this year than ever before and that partner agencies have come to rely on the Day of Caring volunteers.

Mary Jo Self volunteers with fellow workers from the College of Education at the LIFE Adult Day Center.

“We are so appreciative for the volunteers, they do so much good work for our agencies,” Carter said. “Day of Caring is for the agencies, but it really shows the generosity of the community.”

Kyle Gibbs, Stillwater Police Department captain, has been volunteering on Day of Caring for 11 years and is amazed at the work the volunteers do for the agencies.

“The volunteers make a huge difference to the agencies and the community,” Gibbs said. “They do everything from painting to building steps at a Mobile Meals client’s home.”

Many members of the Oklahoma State University community participated in Day of Caring, which is the first of many opportunities to be a part of the United Way campaign to help the Stillwater area.

For more information on how to give or get involved in upcoming events, visit unitedway.okstate.edu or stillwaterunitedway.org.

PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157658671442858

Story by Katie Rosebrook