On Friday, September 20th, over 800 individuals volunteered their time at 38 different nonprofits and agencies to complete 50 amazing projects! Thank you to our nonprofit organizations for welcoming the volunteer groups into their spaces, and to our volunteers for rolling up their sleeves and getting great work done. We’d also like to give a shoutout and thanks to our generous sponsor, Sentara Health, for their support and providing 300+ Sentara volunteers that took part in this special day.
“Our Sentara team enjoyed the time volunteering at Edmarc, the Foodbank, and HER Shelter for this year’s Day of Caring,” said Melissa Dassau, from Sentara Corporate, who helps coordinate their volunteer engagement. “We came together from several different departments and worked to support local organizations that support our community.”
“Learning just how significant and crucial it is to continue to support each organization really allowed our team the opportunity to enrich our work culture and appreciate all who try to better our community,” said Melissa.
Those who volunteered helped in multiple different ways, ranging from beautifying the outside of buildings with new mulch and florals to packing food and craft kits for those in need.
List of Companies who Volunteered:
- Atlantic Union Bank
- Brown Advisory
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Checkered Flag Auto Group
- Clark Nexsen
- Cummins Chesapeake
- Trane Technologies
- Dominion Enterprises
- Enterprise Mobility
- Fulton Bank
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District
- Hampton Roads Workforce Council
- Harbor Group
- IMERYS
- Kaufman & Canoles
- Landmark Hotel Group
- Lawson Companies
- Mercer
- New York Times SSC
- Norfolk Airport Authority
- Old Point National Bank
- Palms Associates
- Pembroke Realty Group
- PRA Group
- S&K Sales
- Sentara Clinical Education
- Sentara Corporate
- Sentara Enterprises
- Sentara Health Plans
- Sentara IT
- Sentara Leigh Hospital
- Sentara Medical Group
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
- Sentara Obici Hospital
- Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
- Sentara Shared Services
- Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
- Suffolk Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
- Titan America
- TowneBank
- Trader Interactive
- VB CASA
- Virginia Natural Gas
- Wegmans – Virginia Beach
- Willcox Savage Law Firm
- Women United
“We feel so appreciative to have the support of a caring community. Each year during the Day of Caring project, we are immediately taken aback by the organizations that CHOOSE us to give their time and resources to,” said Beth Anderson, Community Training & Professional Development Director at Children’s Harbor. “Annually, we’ve calculated that the Day of Caring project saves our agency upwards of $15,000 or more,” she said.
This year, there were volunteer groups completing projects at 4 of the Children’s Harbor locations, Ghent, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. “One volunteer agency this year bought all of our center staff gift cards for a free car wash to show their appreciation and support,” Beth said. “Another agency volunteered to ‘adopt’ us for the holidays – with plans of giving back through toy and coat drives. Another volunteer shared our mission with her family, who then sought partnership to make homemade blankets for the infants in our care.”
List of Nonprofits/Agencies Served:
- Ability Center of Virginia
- An Achievable Dream
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia
- Children’s Harbor
- Edmarc
- Eggleston
- EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program
- Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
- ForKids, Inc
- Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
- H.E.R Shelter
- LGBT Life Center
- Marian Manor Assisted Living
- Meals on Wheels of Chesapeake Inc
- Norfolk SPCA
- PIN Ministry
- REACH (Reading Enriches All Children), Inc.
- Seton Youth Services
- Southeastern Virginia Training Center
- Taylor Bend Family YMCA
- The Children’s Center
- The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command
- The Up Center
- Trails of Purpose
- United Way of South Hampton Roads
- Virginia Beach SPCA
- YWCA South Hampton Roads
“Day of Caring is our largest volunteer event of the year, but it’s also my favorite,” said Mikayla Hume, Director of Volunteerism with United Way of South Hampton Roads. “As the Director of Volunteerism, it is such a joy to coordinate Day of Caring with both our incredible partner agencies and nonprofits, and the amazing volunteer groups from our partner companies and corporations. When the day comes, it is truly a day of connection,” she said. “Day of Caring does more than just help complete projects; it connects community members and neighbors together. I always wish I could magically be at every single site to see the great volunteer work happening!”
Day of Caring is a volunteer day of service, but it serves a much greater purpose than just that. Day of Caring connects our community together to build a brighter future for the 757.
To learn more about future volunteer events through United Way of South Hampton Roads, please email volunteer@unitedwayshr.org.