Day of Caring

Celebrating 26 Years of Caring in Action

For 26 years, Day of Caring has brought together volunteers, community-minded businesses, and nonprofit partners to make a meaningful difference — one project at a time. Each June, across Northumberland County, teams of volunteers take on hands-on projects that help individuals, families, and agencies in need of a little extra support. From yard work and home repairs to community clean-ups and beyond, this day is a living example of what it means to care, together.

A Community Tradition with Real Impact

• 150 volunteers

• 25 project sites

• 1 shared mission: to care, together

But numbers only tell part of the story.

What those numbers don’t tell you is about the senior in Cobourg who sat quietly on her porch while volunteers trimmed her overgrown hedges and cleaned the yard she can no longer manage on her own. She lost her husband not long ago, and with no one to help, the yard had become too much to manage. She told us she’s doing her best to hold on to the home they shared for so many years — and now, maybe, with things cleaned up, her grandkids might want to come visit again.

They don’t tell you about the team at Ed’s House, our local hospice, who built a sliding barn door to shield the view of stored supplies — a small detail, yes, but one that gave grieving families a little more peace during tender moments.

They don’t tell you about the fresh coat of paint rolled onto the walls of a group home for people with developmental disabilities, or how a team of coworkers laughed and worked side by side while restoring a donkey sanctuary’s fence line.

These moments — the quiet ones, the sweaty ones, the meaningful ones — that’s the heart of Day of Caring.

So Where Do Donations Go?

We hear this question sometimes, and it’s a fair one.

When you support Day of Caring — through a donation, a sponsorship, or as a business stepping up — you’re not paying for our salaries. You’re making this possible:

• Tools, brushes, mulch, screws, safety glasses

• Paint rollers, power washers, garbage bags, lumber

• Breakfast to kickstart the day (and keep spirits high)

• The coordination it takes to match 25+ locations with 150 volunteers, across a county

You’re putting help directly into the hands of people who need it. And you’re giving volunteers the means to show up safely, meaningfully, and well-equipped.

It’s one day — but the ripple effects last for weeks, months, and in some cases, for years.

Transparency for our Sponsors

If you’re a business considering sponsoring or participating in Day of Caring, here’s where your support goes:

• Funding for tools, supplies, and project materials

• Safety equipment and volunteer T-shirts

• Snacks, logistics, and site coordination

• Outreach to identify project sites with real community need

Looking Ahead

Your sponsorship directly powers local change — and positions your business as a leader in community care.

Who Shows Up – and Why It Matters

Day of Caring brings together:

✔️ Workplace teams from our United Way at Work partners
✔️ Local businesses who believe in giving back
✔️ Service clubs, individuals, and families who just want to help

And the people we serve? They’re seniors who want to stay in the homes they love. They’re nonprofits who can’t afford repairs but want to keep their spaces welcoming. They’re families who need a bit of comfort during life’s hardest chapters.

This is what donor dollars make possible. This is what your support looks like, in action.

Looking Forward – and Looking Wider

This year, we reached communities from Cobourg to Port Hope, and beyond — including projects at:

🌻 Ed’s House / Northumberland Hospice
🏡 Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre
🌼 PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary
🏘️ Five Karis House homes
🪴 Community Living Respite
🌸 Steamway Villa and Sutherland Place Co-op Homes

And while Day of Caring has its roots in central Northumberland, we’re growing.
We’re painting fences at Primrose on County Road 9. We’re planting seeds for a county-wide culture of care.

And we’ll keep going — one project at a time, one person at a time — as long as there are hearts ready to help.

Be Part of the Next Chapter

If you’re a business, a volunteer team, a service club, or someone who just wants to roll up your sleeves and do some good — let’s talk about Day of Caring 2026.

Darlene Robertson, Fund & Community Development Coordinator
📞 905-372-6955 or email Darlene here: drobertson@nuw.unitedway.ca

This is what it means to care for community.

This is the United Way way. ❤️