COLUMBUS, Ind. — An annual volunteer event where local businesses and community members connect with nonprofits is no longer confined to a single 24-hour day.
Friday was the official “Day of Caring,” sponsored by the United Way of Bartholomew County. Organizers said they were able to connect 31 projects with volunteers representing about 10 local companies, as well as some individuals. Of all the participants, Toyota Material Handling North America providing the most workers, United Way Communications Manager Magen Pillar said.
About 270 volunteers were recruited for Friday’s program, United Way President Mark Stewart said. That’s a low turnout only if you consider the “Day of Caring” had attracted more than a thousand workers a day prior to COVID-19, Stewart said.
However, Stewart said the lower turnout did not surprise anyone.
“We designed all of the projects to be safe, provided social distancing, and did everything possible to make the projects comply with (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines,” Stewart said. “But having said that, some people just have different levels of comfort with the virus. Typically, we would have solicited a little harder to get volunteers out, but we’re not doing that this year.”
For the complete story and more photos, see Saturday’s Republic.
