United Way Days of Caring Draws 400 Volunteers

United Way volunteers are contributing their time and talent valued at more than $25,000 to 17 partner agencies for the Roanoke Valley’s 13^th annual Days of Caring observance that kicked off today at Roanoke Public Library headquarters.

The event came exactly seven weeks after the annual campaign kickoff, at its chronological midpoint. Campaign chair John Heitz announced that $2,517,710 had been raised to date in the drive to fund a network of local health and human service programs. 

“We are grateful for the generosity of people in the campaigns completed to date,” Heitz said. “They’re proof of the results we hope to achieve when everyone seizes the Power of One.”

More than 400 Days of Caring (DOC) volunteers from 28 businesses are spending time and energy to perform tasks requested by United Way of Roanoke Valley partner agencies. Altogether, 55 projects were adopted by employees of companies that conduct United Way workplace campaigns.

Rallying around the slogan, “Results You Can See,” representatives from Wachovia Bank, the Adult Care Center, and United Way of Roanoke Valley gathered to ceremonially launch the communitywide volunteer effort. Almost half of this year’s Days of Caring volunteers are Wachovia employees.

The setting was picked to highlight a new twist on the 13-year-old event: inviting public participation. A book drive targeting children in the preschool years will run from now through November 18 – one week before Thanksgiving. New or gently used books suitable for infants through kindergarteners can be dropped off at the United Way lobby, 325 Campbell Avenue, SW. Donations will be shared with participants in the Success By 6^TM program, whose goal it is to improve the quality of care for children from birth until they enter school. 

Days of Caring started locally in 1991 as a way to engage civic participation among employees at businesses that conduct United Way workplace campaigns. The observance was expanded from one to three days in 1998.

United Way of Roanoke Valley serves citizens of Roanoke, Salem, Vinton and Botetourt, Craig and Roanoke counties by mobilizing support for a local network of health and human service programs that reach 80,000 people annually.