Last week, more than 200 volunteers rolled up their sleeves
and made a big difference across Springfield and nearby communities during the
Spring Day of Action hosted by United Way of Central Illinois.
The day started with a special volunteer appreciation lunch
at the Salvation Army. Volunteers gathered to enjoy delicious food from Café
Moxo, made possible by generous support from PNC, which served as the
underwriter for the event. It was a chance to say “thank you” to those who give
their time and energy to help others.
During lunch, United Way gave out awards to honor a few
amazing community helpers. Brice Magowan was named Community Champion for
always showing up and supporting United Way in many ways. The Game Changer
award went to the organization Birth to Five for helping promote the 211
resource line that connects people with important services. Sarah Goleman
received the Visionary Award for all the work she does on the Vision Councils
and for her strong dedication to the community. The United in Action award was
given to Bank of Springfield, which brought the largest volunteer group for the
day. What a team!
After lunch, the real action began.
Volunteers headed to dozens of different project sites.
These sites included schools, community centers, parks and gardens. Some
projects were indoors, others outdoors, and each one made a positive impact.
Here are just a few of the many projects:
• Kitchen makeover: A team helped deep clean and organize a
busy commercial kitchen.
• Nature work: At Friends of the Sangamon Valley, volunteers
removed invasive plants, planted flowers and cleaned trails. Others worked on
native gardens and added mulch.
• Ranch work: At a local ranch, volunteers cleaned barns,
tended the garden and got the space ready for spring events.
• Window washing and cleaning: At the Illinois Presbyterian
Home and other spots, volunteers made windows shine and organized donation
spaces.
• Community surveys: Volunteers worked with the Illinois
Housing Development Authority to complete a housing survey. This will help
Springfield leaders plan for better homes and neighborhoods.
Day of Action happens twice each year – once in the spring
and once in the fall. Every time, it brings together hundreds of people from
across central Illinois to make a big difference in just one afternoon.
This spring’s Day of Action showed just how much good can
happen when people care – and act. Volunteers didn’t just give their time; they
gave their hearts. Whether they were helping kids, seniors, animals, or nature,
each volunteer helped create a brighter, better Springfield.
Mark your calendars for the Fall Day of Action on Friday,
Oct. 3. Registration will open in late summer. You can stay updated with all
things United Way and volunteering by signing up for our volunteer monthly
newsletter here: www.uwcil.org/sign-up
Together, we will build a community where everyone can
thrive.
Chloe Reim currently serves as the volunteer and program coordinator at United Way of Central Illinois. To learn more about United Way
and how to get involved follow us on social media and find us online at
www.uwcil.org