What happens when over 900 community members take the day off work to go volunteer across Greater Chattanooga?
A lot.
Gardens are planted, classrooms and hallways are re-painted. Trash is cleared out and community pantries are filled up. Donation centers are sorted and stocked. Plant nurseries are transformed, sidewalks refurbished, hiking trails restored, and backpacks packed. Postponed projects are completed, and long-standing needs finally met. But perhaps most of all, community is nourished, united, and made in new ways. In short, Day of Caring 2024 happens.
Day of Caring is a city-wide day of volunteerism. For 20 years now, it has united local businesses, nonprofits, and community members to enhance public spaces, support local organizations, and address pressing needs in the community. Volunteers get their hands dirty alongside the folks they are normally on email chains with. Citizens make a tangible impact in areas of their city they may otherwise just drive through. Neighbors learn (and relearn) what needs, nonprofits, missions, and people make up their neighborhoods.
On September 20th, over 900 volunteers showed up for Chattanooga—the largest Day of Caring turnout to date. These volunteers impacted 32 local nonprofits and completed over 60 unique projects.
With some quick math, we can tell you that this day actually saved the community over $100,000. On top of that, it saved our nonprofit partners thousands of hours of labor. This means that the organizations in our community who are boots-on-the-ground keeping our unhoused neighbors warm, providing pathways to success for single mothers, creating safe spaces for youth aging out of foster care, and restoring ecological biodiversity in our region can get back to doing the work they originally set out to do. How’s that for an ROI?
Something we can’t quite calculate, but that’s just as valuable, is the comradery and empowerment that volunteerism creates. Day of Caring brings teams together and builds bridges in the community. But don’t take just take our word for it. Listen to what Brian Hemminger from Food City has to say:
“It’s team building…. we’re getting our hands dirty and giving high fives. I truly think that the more we do that, we’ll get better as a community and as an organization. We’re family-owned and operated, and at the end of the day that’s what we are: a family. And we want to give back every single day that we can.”
Food City was one of 42 local businesses that rallied their employees to serve on Day of Caring 2024.
Day of Caring reminds us how resourceful we can be when we come together. It’s a day of empowerment and looking at one another and the community through a new lens of possibility.
Not sure about you, but we are feeling so encouraged by this day. A day like this inspires us to make more time to serve the people we share a street with. A day like this reminds us to continue to care, even when the tasks feel too big or the problems out of our control. A day like this reminds us how much we love our neighbors.
What’s one small thing you could do today to care for your community?
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Wishing you could’ve been part of Day of Caring 2024? Not to worry! We help coordinate year-round volunteering opportunities. Find a local opportunity that’s meaningful to you at ihelpchattanooga.org.
View photos from Day of Caring 2024 here. Watch the video here.