News

More than 400 volunteers get it done in Days of Caring

Volunteers get a field ready for planting at Veterans Healing Farm.

By Lightning Reports, Published: May 17, 2023

More than 400 community volunteers came together to work on 36 service projects at 24 Henderson County nonprofit agencies on May 12 for Days of Caring sponsored by the United Way of Henderson County.

The two-day event concluded on Saturday, May 13, with the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The food drive is a community-based endeavor where residents leave a bag of non-perishable food donations at their mailboxes and letter carriers collect the donations as the mail is delivered. All donated food is immediately sorted and placed with three local food pantries – Interfaith Assistance Ministry, Storehouse, and The Salvation Army.

“Allen Tate-Beverly Hanks looks forward to this day each year because we always have great participation from our agents,” said Sonny Iler of Allen-Tate Beverly Hanks. “We feel that it’s not only important to serve our community professionally but it’s also important to give back. There’s a lot of need out there and we have a very strong, willing, and able group of folks that work this project every year.” 

Projects included a variety tasks that offered opportunity for a wide range of volunteers. For the gardener, projects included mulching, planting and landscaping. For the handy-person, there was painting, small repairs, and construction. Food pantries and thrift stores got help organizing and stocking products. There was even an opportunity for the crafts person — sewing comfort items for neighbors in palliative care.

“We love Days of Caring,” said Greg Walker, director of Fletcher's Parks & Recreation Department. “We have only four staff members to maintain 70 acres of park. Having volunteers mulch the trees helps us tremendously”

The effect of donated hours makes a lasting impact on local agencies that are working to support county residents with programs and services. In total, 407 individuals contributed 1,669 hours of volunteer labor to 24 area nonprofit organizations. The impact of those hours is equivalent to $49,986 contribution.

United Way of Henderson County welcomes volunteers at two community-wide events each year. The volunteer days provide hands-on help to local nonprofits and Day of Action engages volunteers to assist with projects at each of Henderson County’s public schools. The 2023 Day of Action to spruce up schools will take place in August; more information will be available later this summer.

Days of Caring sponsors were:

• Gold Level: AdventHealth Hendersonville and Publix Super Market Charities
• Silver Level: Allen Tate Beverly-Hanks, Champion Comfort Experts, Current, Pratt & Whitney, WNC Bridge Foundation and Westrock
• Bronze Level: Boyd Chevrolet Buick, Carolina Village, Goldsmith Molis & Gray PLLC, Kimberly-Clark; Mt Pisgah Lutheran Church and Preschool, Optimum and United Community bank.