Day of service is a Day of Caring

United Way chapters throughout Utah this year have each chosen a “Day of Caring” and in Cache Valley this volunteer day of service is Thursday, September 8. “We’re inviting all of our volunteers to meet at the Willow Park Center Stage area Thursday morning at 8:00,” said Doug Stephenson, Executive Director, United Way of Cache Valley. “Then we will separate off into about 20 different projects in the valley to work on. “I think it will be great fun. We’re going to try to finish up about 1 p.m., so it’s about a half a day of providing service to our community.” 150 volunteers participated in last year’s Day of Caring, the first such event for United Way in Cache Valley. “We expect closer to 200 volunteers this year,” said Stephenson. “We’re going to do projects over at the Chamber of Commerce, CAPSA, a couple of projects at the Child and Family Support Center and also Bear River Head Start and at the Whittier Center. We will be at Cache Employment and Training, Sunshine Terrace, Senior Citizens Center, English Language Center, the Food Pantry, Options for Independence, Common Ground and others.” Stephenson said they will also be involved in BRAG’s Senior Companions Program. “They have seniors helping seniors. You have to be over 60 years old and they have senior volunteers who go out and help other seniors here in the valley with fixing meals or taking them shopping or to the doctor. United Way gives them a little bit of a stipend to do that. Everybody involved benefits from it.” Stephenson said most of the volunteers come from local business and industry. “We’ve had great support from people like Zions Bank, Qwest, Questar, Schreibers, Dillards and Community Nursing Services. The LDS Church has indicated some missionaries will be on hand to help out. Our biggest group last year came from Stevens Henager who brought 50 people and they’re going to do that again this year. Thermo Fisher brought over 30 last year and they’re bringing a big group again. “New this year is Cook, Martin and Poulsen, an accounting firm in the valley, and they indicate they will bring 30 volunteers.” Stephenson said anyone interested in volunteering should show up Thursday morning with some gloves and a hat and be ready to go to work.

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