United Way Hosts 18th Annual Day of Caring

Since 1992, The Buffalo Chapter of The United Way has been mobilizing thousands each year for their annual Day of Caring event.  The event has partnered not-for-profit organizations with volunteers from local businesses to complete hands-on service projects each year including providing meals and companionship to seniors and assisting agencies with other tasks that allow them to keep their focus on the people they serve.

The Day of Caring not only benefits the community through the mobilization and efforts of thousands of volunteers but the agencies who work with The United Way receive needed assistance in completing projects, the volunteers feel fulfilled and learn about the valuable services being provided, and ongoing partnerships between agencies and corporations are built and sustained.

• Day of Caring provides an opportunity for people to try out a volunteer job.  Many who participate continue to volunteer year-round. 

• Independent Sector, a coalition of not-for-profits, foundations, and corporations that advocates citizen action, estimates that the value of a volunteer’s time is $20.25 per hour!

• Last year’s 2009 Day of Caring efforts saved agencies in Erie and Niagara Counties approximately
$291,100 due to an estimated 14,375 hours of service by 3,594 volunteers.

• United Way Day of Caring volunteers over the last 17 years have together saved agencies in Erie
and Niagara Counties more than $5.8 million dollars with more than 359,000 hours of service
donated from over 88,000 volunteers.

The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County provides everyone with an opportunity to LIVE UNITED
by giving to the annual Campaign, advocating for issues that are important to the community,
and volunteering their time on the Day of Caring and beyond.

                   Wednesday, August 18^th, 2010

                   7:30 am       HSBC Arena

                                      Continental Breakfast

                                      Volunteers Team-up

                   8:15 am       Welcoming remarks

                   8:30 am          Send off ~ Buses depart to agencies

                   12:30 pm               Buses depart agencies and return to

                                                HSBC Arena for DOC Party ~

                                                Lunch & Refreshments to be served

                                                Live entertainment by THE UNITY BAND        

                    Volunteers share their experiences with each other…

                   2:30 pm                 Savor another successful Day of Caring!!

** Please note – a number of Day of Caring participating companies/volunteers will work at projects that go outside of this general schedule.  Some will start earlier or go later, others will include lunch on site at the agency or take them on field trips and bring them back later in the day.