The Centre County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 5 as Day of Caring in Centre County.
Celebrating its 30th year, Day of Caring is hosted by the Centre County United Way (CCUW) and brings together individuals, groups and businesses throughout the community to volunteer at local nonprofit organizations.
“The Day of Caring is a critical day in Centre County,” Paula Williams, CCUW executive director, said. “We are very fortunate that so many volunteers sign up and so many of our partner agencies and other organizations come together to ask for some help and then it’s provided.”
Across the county, 49 sites have registered as volunteer sites for the day, according to Celesta Powell, event coordinator.
“We have just under 1,000 volunteers and that sounds really great,” Powell said. “A lot of them, which I think is even better, are young…so they are pretty phenomenal when they get out to do some things and we also have some skilled groups around the area that are taking on some bigger projects.”
Powell noted that students from Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy, State College Area High School’s Delta program and Bellefonte Area High School will be among the groups participating, and that multiple businesses will be donating their services. Because donations to CCUW are not used for the event, it relies on volunteer support and donations to cover costs, including from event sponsor PNC
“When you are taking care of people and you are helping people, the last thing you have is the yard, the leaky fence, the new roof, the extra things,” she said. “When Day of Caring happens and people come out and say ‘I’ve never stained a deck before but I’ll do it today,’ you have an outpouring that is such a mutual relationship that it’s wonderful. So, that’s the Day of Caring and we are looking forward to it.”
Commissioner Amber Concepcion thanked the CCUW for hosting the Day of Caring and its work to support nonprofit agencies.
“I think that in county services, we are often working with families that have multiple different kinds of needs and it seems like the kind of care you are providing can go a long way to filling some of those gaps, so thank you,” she said.
The late Marine Col. Gerald Russell, a community leader who was a CCUW board member, led the creation of Day of Caring in the 1990s as he sought new ways to support local nonprofit agencies beyond monetary donations.
“Colonel Russell was near and dear to a lot of our hearts and probably one of the better souls that ever walked this earth when it comes to the community service, public service and sacrifice for the country,” Commissioner Steve Dershem said. “A decorated Marine Corps vet… this was near and dear to him and I think the impact that its had over the last 30 years in pretty phenomenal.”
This year’s Day of Caring will start with a breakfast for volunteers at the Bryce Jordan Center, where they’ll be joined by Penn State basketball coach Mike Rhoades, before heading out to volunteer sites.
To register to volunteer for the Day of Caring, visit the CCUW website.
