At the YWCA’s newly renovated historic building in downtown Knoxville, volunteers unpacked a boutique’s worth of clothing and prepared rooms for residents to move in. At MUSE Knoxville, they painted planters, refreshed the entrance, and helped install a French drain. At Koinonia Foundation, they helped the organization get runway-ready for “Custom Made Fashion Show”, their largest fundraiser of the year.
Three sites, one morning, 105 volunteer hours across the day.
Day of Caring is United Way of Greater Knoxville’s annual spring volunteer event, matching local corporate teams with nonprofit projects. Chrystal Armstrong Brown, UWGK’s CEO, put it simply. “Day of Caring is one of our favorite days of the year. We get to connect people who want to help with nonprofits who need it, and by the end of the morning, there is immediate gratification and pride in the difference made for our nonprofit partners.”
Team spirit
At the YWCA, a team from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee spent the morning unpacking, sorting, and creating a shoppable resource space for residents. The gently used clothes and accessories, donated to the organization, are displayed in a way to offer residents dignity. Kathy Mack, Chief Youth Engagement Officer of the YWCA said, “When I look at the volunteers that are here today, it is such a sense of gratitude and hope that together we are creating a space that is safe and welcoming.”
At Muse Knoxville, a team from Regions Bank painted, planted, and worked outside on drainage. Eva Kyle at Muse Knoxville said, “When I talk to the volunteers from Regions Bank, I see the passion they have to make our space beautiful for all of our visitors and our kiddos.”
At Koinonia Foundation, a team from UT Medical Center stuffed envelopes, tied gift bags for the fashion show held on May 7. Kristy DuBose, Executive Director at Koinonia Foundation, said, “The work that our volunteers did today would have taken our team literal days to complete.”
Why companies show up
Ellen Trusty, Senior Vice President and Commercial Banker at Regions Financial, kept the corporate case simple. “Regions has always valued giving back to our communities. We believe that if the community we live in is thriving, then our business is thriving too. Day of Caring is a great way for us to better support the place we call home.”
Rachel Lesler, Community Relations Specialist at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, added that the day did something for her team, too. “United Way of Greater Knoxville’s Day of Caring is a great way to bring our remote employees together in person and build team morale while learning more about the community, getting away from the desk to enjoy time together and volunteer.”
A thank you to our sponsor
Stowers Machinery Corporation returned as the 2026 Day of Caring Gold Sponsor. For more than 65 years, Stowers has been part of what makes Knoxville work, and their sponsorship helps make events like this one possible.
Save the date for Fall 2026
If your company would like to sponsor or bring a team to our Fall Week of Caring, September 21 – 24 20276, email volunteer@unitedwayknox.org. Year-round volunteer opportunities are available for groups at Volunteer East Tennessee .
