Some things in a community become tradition not because they’re scheduled, but because they matter.

On Friday, June 5, 2026, over 150 volunteers gathered at the Cobourg Lions Community Centre for the 27th Annual Day of Caring, a morning that began with breakfast, remarks, and the kind of quiet energy that only happens when a room full of people have all decided, together, to give their time.

The Cobourg Lions Club has been an integral partner since the beginning, donated both the morning kickoff breakfast and the wrap-up barbecue at 2 PM. That generosity sets the tone for everything that follows.

The day opened with remarks from our Executive Director Alicia Vandine. “Each year fluctuates between 100 and 200 volunteers,” she said, “but from the very beginning, Day of Caring has averaged 20,000 volunteer hours annually, and that number belongs entirely to this community.”

Mayor Lucas Cleveland brought a welcome grounded in community, and Andy Thorne, VP of Fuel Services and Operational Excellence at Cameco Ontario, joined us to speak to the importance of safety, a value that carries as much weight on a volunteer site as it does in any workplace.

But here’s what makes Northumberland’s Day of Caring different.

This isn’t a public call for volunteers. It’s something more intentional. The event is organized by a working committee whose seats are held by representatives from our industry sponsors: Cameco Ontario, Sabic, CPK, Stalwood Homes, Lakeport, Arclin, the Town of Cobourg, Home Hardware (Cobourg, Port Hope, and Newcastle), and CPS Wood Products. These aren’t passive partners. They help determine what work gets done and where.

That model matters. It means the relationships we build with our community partners and industry sponsors aren’t transactional, they’re the foundation of the day itself.

This year’s day was also made possible by additional sponsors including RBC, Lakefront Utilities, and PJ’s Promotional Outfitters and anchored, as always, by the Cobourg Lions Club, who donate the hall, the breakfast, and the barbecue lunch that closes the day.

Volunteers spent the day mulching, painting, gardening, and showing up at retirement communities, nonprofits, and the homes of seniors who are aging in place. Because sometimes making a difference looks like two hours in someone’s backyard. And that two hours matters more than we can say.

This is what a donation to United Way Northumberland helps sustain, not just the logistics of a single day, but the momentum of 27 years. The reminder, every June, that this community shows up for itself. That neighbors care for neighbors. That generosity, when it’s organized and channelled well, changes things.

Day of Caring is one part of how we make a difference. But it’s a powerful one.