Carla Clark | For The Republic Brandy Mijares and Elaine Hilber, Cummins employees, work on a picnic table at Columbus Animal Care Services during the United Way Day of Caring, Columbus, Ind., Friday, May 17, 2024.
Candy Feiles got a warm feeling sorting school supplies Friday morning.
On one hand, she remembered the joy of shopping for the items years ago for her daughter, now a teacher in Jennings County. On the other hand, the warmth came from the fact that she was among hundreds helping local nonprofits complete vital work during the United Way of Bartholomew County’s Annual Day of Caring.
The time is set aside for volunteers such as Candy Feiles and her coworker team of eight people from Columbus’ First Financial Bank. They were completing tasks for the Bartholomew County School Supply Assistance Program during a stint in the Doug Otto Center, 1531 13th St. in Columbus. The bank pays its workers up to eight hours annually for such efforts.
But Feiles mentioned that’s hardly why she was present Friday.
“I believe that this is very definitely worthwhile,” Feiles said of her fourth Day of Caring involvement.
The latest Day of Caring included more than of volunteers among 15 local companies (plus some individuals) spread out among 37 projects, from painting to office work. According to 2023 national estimates, one volunteer hour is equal to $33.49 for a nonprofit, a 5.3 percent increase from 2022, according to the Nonprofit Leadership Center. Those figures are especially significant since nonprofit budgets often are tight these days.
Nichristin Guesman, overseeing the work on behalf of United Way’s Volunteer Action Center, beamed as she watched her visitors work quickly amid glue sticks, pens, pencils, crayons, you name it.
“It excites me that we can help well over 2,000 kids get the supplies they need,” Guesman said, adding that these items will be placed into backpacks in July before the start of a new school year. “This helps the kids start off the school year in the best way possible.”
Day of Caring organizers were clear that, though Friday’s rain caused about six outdoor projects to be rescheduled, compassion and selfless service still reigned. In fact, Magen Pillar, United Way’s director of communications and marketing, said some volunteers still worked outdoors in a light rain by choice in the morning.
“Volunteers at outside projects that have continued despite the weather have made the most of it and are enjoying being outside in the rain,” Pillar said. “Some organizations simply shifted projects and given volunteers inside projects to complete.”
