Showing They Care

more than 900 volunteers will spend their Friday working on community projects

Tom Giffey |

Sept. 20 won’t be a typical Friday for more than 900 workers from dozens of Chippewa Valley employers. Instead of punching the clock as usual, these volunteers are expected to take part in the 25th annual Day of Caring organized by the United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley. They’ll leave their workplaces and spend the day completing projects for more than 40 nonprofits and community organizations across Eau Claire and Chippewa counties. Last year alone, volunteers put in more than 3,750 hours in a single day!

“Day of Caring has been a huge asset for our agency over the years,” said Tanya Potter, volunteer coordinator at Bolton Refuge House in Eau Claire. “We have had hundreds of volunteers who have come and done various projects,” from landscaping to roofing to removing trees, she said. This year, as they have several times before, about 60 volunteers from Xcel Energy will help at Bolton facilities. “It’s all of our favorite day of the year,” enthused Julie Thoney, community service and economic development manager at Xcel. “From the volunteer perspective, it’s just really eye-opening to be able to give back to someone in the community who’s less fortunate than us. It feels really good to be side by side with your coworkers.”

Learn more at www.uwgcv.org/day-caring.