September 19, 2024 – More than 750 Payne County residents participated in last week’s annual Day of Caring, a community service event organized by United Way of Payne County.
Despite record-breaking temperatures, teams of volunteers completed 123 projects at 61 job sites in Perkins, Cushing, and Stillwater on Sept. 19. After a kickoff breakfast and campaign rally hosted by UWPC, volunteers headed to the job sites armed with tools, supplies, and plenty of sunscreen.
Projects included everything from moving cinder blocks for new raised garden beds to raking leaves and building fences. It was a hot, physically demanding day, but volunteers were all smiles across the county, calling it a “feel-good” day.
Ruth Cavins, executive director of UWPC, says Day of Caring shows Payne County is a community where individuals thrive because neighbors care.
“They are willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard so their neighbors can prosper,” she said. According to Cavins, the community isn’t the only benefactor of the donated labor. The volunteers also gain something equally important: they learn about the agencies' missions and programs.
“Volunteers learn more about the critical issues our community faces,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for them to give back to their communities.”
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma is one of UWPC’s 24 nonprofit partner agencies that benefit from Day of Caring. Troop supporter Wanda Johnson said that while the volunteers learn about Girl Scouts, the troops also learn valuable lessons.
“Day of Caring helps the girls understand more about what it means to make the world a better place and about making a difference in our community and world,” said Johnson. “They learn about the importance of community and the responsibilities that it brings if we want to make a difference. They learn about helping others and giving back.”
The half-day countywide event is the culmination of months of organization and coordination. Each of UWPC’s partner agencies can submit project requests in advance, and work teams are assigned based on the size and complexity of the projects. Retired Stillwater police captain Kyle Gibbs has been involved with Day of Caring since 2004 and has been the project coordinator since 2007. “I love the sense of community,” Gibbs said. “It’s my mission field.”
UWPC board members Latina Simmons, Curtis Bales, and Ashley Joiner headed up the volunteer taskforce in Cushing. Over 50 volunteers gathered paint brushes and weed eaters and tackled projects at Cushing locations such as the public library, Cushing Memorial Park, and Cushing Marketplace. The volunteers even painted a tricycle track at the Head Start facility on Vine Street.
Simmons said, “This day was a huge blessing for all who participated, and we look forward to serving again next year!”
Chris Petermann, president of Payne County Bank, coordinated the volunteer efforts in Perkins. Petermann has also been involved with Day of Caring for nearly 20 years.
“This year, Day of Caring volunteers installed two book boxes, did landscape work for Perkins-Tryon Schools, and did tree/brush cleanup at the Perkins Cemetery,” Petermann said.
Stillwater Medical Center donated project supplies for the event and was the presenting sponsor. Numerous other businesses served as co-sponsors.
Day of Caring marks the kickoff of UWPC’s annual fundraising campaign. Cavins said, “It’s a wonderful opportunity to build workplace comradely while supporting our local nonprofit organizations and beautifying our community.”
VIEW PHOTOS FROM DAY OF CARING
