In honor of National Volunteer Month, United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) hosted a Day of Caring, a community-wide volunteer effort that connected corporate teams with local nonprofit partners for a morning of hands-on service.
“One of the most powerful things about this event was seeing people from across sectors come together for a shared purpose,” said Chrystal Armstrong Brown, Interim CEO of UWGK. “Having help with these projects makes a huge difference for the nonprofits doing vital work in our city. We’re grateful to every company and volunteer who took the time to serve our community.”
Close to 50 corporate volunteers from The Christman Company, EdFinancial Services, PYA, Regions Bank, and Texas Instruments stepped away from their desks and into their community, taking on service projects that supported UWGK-funded organizations. Teams stuffed 1,000 Easter eggs for YWCA’s upcoming event, completed outdoor planting projects and led activity tables at Muse Knoxville, refreshed the playground at Olive Tree, and organized a clothing trailer at CareCuts.
Nonprofit partners shared how helpful these extra hands were, especially during a busy season. Kathy Mack, Chief Youth Engagement Officer at YWCA, expressed, “At YWCA we rely on volunteers to make our work possible. Having these groups come in and dive into hands-on projects frees up our team to focus on other work, amplifying our capacity and our impact.”
For many corporate teams, the opportunity was a chance to give back in a meaningful way. Dianna Kerbyson, Employee Engagement Coordinator at EdFinancial Services shared, “Our employees had a wonderful day volunteering for the Day of Caring. Our team enjoyed working together and bonding outside the office. The feedback was amazing, and they are ready to volunteer again soon!” She continued to share how grateful her team was, “Thank you, United Way, for the opportunity to give back to our community, engage with one another and work with such a wonderful staff. We are honored to support United Way and your mission to strengthen and support our community!”
United Way plans to continue hosting opportunities like the Day of Caring to strengthen the connection between individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and the community.
The Overall Impact of National Volunteer Month
Outside of the Day of Caring impact, UWGK helped 64 local nonprofit organizations secure 479 volunteers during National Volunteer Month. Community members served over 420 hours, valued at more than $13,000.
Volunteers supported festivals and events, Community Schools, early care and education initiatives, health and food access, seniors, environmental cleanups, and more.
Want to join and make an impact? Find more upcoming opportunities on UWGK’s Spring Volunteer Guide at uwgk.org/guide.
