After a short hiatus, United Way Northwest Indiana is bringing back Day of Caring, an all-hands-on-deck volunteer day where people work together as a community to impact their community. The last Day of Caring took place in 2022, when hundreds of volunteers joined forces to help nonprofits and community organizations with various projects. Director of Volunteer Engagement Evelyn Harris is proud that United Way Northwest Indiana is bringing back Day of Caring on Friday, August 1 this year.
“We’ve heard the call to bring it back—and to make it even better. For 2025, United Way Northwest Indiana is investing deeply in outreach, partnerships, and project planning to ensure this event touches every corner of our Region in meaningful ways,” Harris said.
United Way Northwest Indiana is also proud to partner with NIPSCO as the Presenting Sponsor for Day of Caring 2025. As Harris has previously worked with Day of Caring and is helping to relaunch the one-day volunteer event, she is grateful for NIPSCO's support and how it will enable volunteers to cover more ground in serving the community’s needs.
“This year’s Day of Caring will include a wide variety of volunteer opportunities—from beautifying parks and community centers to assembling care kits for families and seniors in need. We’re also working closely with schools, local nonprofits, and municipalities to tailor projects that directly address the unique needs of their constituents,” Harris said.
Harris encourages the whole community to sign up for Day of Caring, especially those who have previously served, so they can lend their prior experience to the endeavor. Whether longstanding or incoming volunteers, United Way Northwest Indiana President and CEO Chris White looks forward to serving alongside everyone and forming new relationships along the way.
“It's always been one of my favorite events. The day starts early in the morning, and this year, it's going to be at the Avalon Manor with a welcome breakfast. It will be high energy with people feeling good because they're going to go do good, meaningful work throughout the day,” White said. “They come and meet other people just like them, and it's a great way to build community and lasting friendships. When you work with somebody for a few hours in the middle of an afternoon that you haven't met before, they become a part of your life by the time you leave.”
White recalls his favorite Day of Caring experience – his first time volunteering for the event – when he worked for an organization creating prepackaged meal kits in an assembly line in Southern Indiana. He and the other volunteers bonded and went out together afterward.
“We don't generally know who our neighbors are. We don't have those same social connections that we used to. That’s why we're looking at how we bring people together and help them believe in their communities as they are rather than the stereotypes that we keep being force-fed through the media. The best way to do that is to come together, interact, and realize that you have more things in common than you have things that separate you,” White said. “What we want to do is provide a way for people to be able to give back. Everyone should be able to feel like they're making a difference in their own community.”
Through her own experience with Day of Caring, Harris has witnessed the twofold impact the event has: bringing people together for the benefit of individual connection and the collective good of the community.
“Over the years, I’ve witnessed Day of Caring bring people together like nothing else. It’s more than just a day of service – it’s a reminder that, when we roll up our sleeves side by side, we build more resilient, connected, and compassionate communities,” Harris said. “If you’ve never volunteered before, this is the year to do it. Whether you're a company looking to give back, a group of friends, or an individual wanting to make a difference, Day of Caring 2025 is your moment to shine."
Grab a friend, family member, or coworker and sign up to work as volunteers for Day of Caring here. Visit United Way Northwest Indiana's website to learn more about local volunteer opportunities or submit a project for the 2025 Day of Caring.
