Coming Together to Make a Difference: United Way’s 2026 Day of Caring
On September 24, volunteers from across St. Joseph County came together for United Way of St. Joseph County’s annual Day of Caring, turning a morning of service into a day filled with connection, teamwork, and community impact.
From painting and delivering meals to seniors to sorting books and helping with projects that support local families, volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work alongside several of our incredible community partners. This year’s projects benefited REAL Services, Goodwill, New Day, Hope Ministries, Boys & Girls Club, Cultivate, Logan Center, and Green Bridge Growers.
We were thrilled to welcome volunteers from throughout the community, including teams from Notre Dame Finance, Goodwill, Beacon Community Impact, 1ST Source Deposit Services, Notre Dame Balfour Hesburgh Scholars, and 1ST Source Human Resources, along with members of our own United Way Board. Their willingness to give their time and energy helped make the day a tremendous success.
After a busy morning of service, volunteers gathered at Ivy Tech for a shared lunch and an opportunity to reconnect, enjoy one another’s company, and celebrate the work accomplished throughout the morning. Stories were shared, new connections were made, and plenty of memories were created!
Day of Caring is a wonderful reminder that making a difference doesn’t always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, it starts with a paintbrush, a delivered meal, a helping hand, or simply showing up for someone else. When individuals, businesses, and organizations come together with a shared purpose, the impact reaches far beyond a single day.
We are incredibly grateful to every volunteer, participating organization, and community partner who helped make this year’s event possible. A special thank-you to 1ST Source Bank and Steel Warehouse for generously sponsoring our Day of Caring and helping bring our community together.
Thank you for showing up, lending a hand, and demonstrating what UNITED IS THE WAY truly means! Together, we are building brighter futures throughout St. Joseph County.
