2008 Day of Caring Was a HUGE Success . . . .

September 10, 2008

SCROLL DOWN FOR PROJECT LIST

NOTE FROM ZENA - Thank you to ALL the volunteers who worked on September 10th, even though the weather looked questionable, it turned out to be a wonderful day.  Thank you for all your hard work.


The 17th Annual Day of Caring kicked off at 8am at the City of Williamsburg Community Building , North Boundary Street.  Over 150 volunteers joined us for coffee donated by Starbucks and Donuts donated by Krispy Kreme and other refreshments sponsored by Farm Fresh, mixed and mingled with their fellow workers and had their company team or individual pictures taken.

T-shirts, sponsored by Anheuser Busch and healthy snacks, sponsored by the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, were be picked up by volunteer team leaders a few days prior to Day of Caring but some volunteers picked up their packages that morning.   All companies were encouraged to bring a banner to hold for their photo's to show their corporate involvement, individuals are invited to make their own signs to show their involvement.

The day was kicked off by Mayor Jeanne Zeidler reading the proclomation and our day of caring chair, Randy Myers, and our Campaign chair, Bob Graves, spoke about the importance of the day and to be careful at their project sites.  Volunteers disbursed after the rally to head out to their project sites around the community to begin work around 9am.

Between 4pm and 6:30pm all volunteers were invited back to the Historic Triangle Community Services Center (where the United Way offices are) to celebrate their accomplishments for the day, share with others what they did and enjoy a fun festival type atmosphere with hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, and of course, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.   A few clowns also joined in the fun and a short campaign kick off program ended the evening.

We would also like to thank "Chair~ity Massages - "Acesos" is a corporate health incentive provider and is a cooperative of nationally certified, state licensed, fully insured massage therapists who offer a comprehensive program of manual therapies.  4 Local massage therapists werel be on site to help the volunteers take away the stress from the busy day and helped raise over $150 for the United Way 2008 Campaign. 

We would like to thank all the volunteer teams that participated in the day and all the agencies who provided projects for the volunteers to work on.

It was a fabulous day! 

 Project List

CLICK HERE for volunteer sign up form

The following projects are not happening on Day of Caring but are considered to be Day of Caring projects - scroll down for the projects happening on Day of Caring.  In the past, some of these have happened on day of caring and volunteers who have helped in the past are invited to help again - the events are just as important, they just didn't work out to be on the same day as our official day of caring.

A.  Food Drives for FISH - if your company is unable to participate on Day of Caring, but would like to help out in another way, you can run a food drive.  Starting the week before and collect donations of non-perishable foods through Day of Caring and bring them to the FISH office on September 9th, 10th or 11th.  If you are planning a food drive, please let Zena know so you can be counted as day of caring volunteers and given recognition for your work - team leaders for the project are eligiable to receive day of caring shirts.  Colonial Williamsburg will be running a food drive the week of Day of Caring. 

Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance will be running a food drive the week of Day of Caring.

Best Buy will be running a food drive the week of Day of Caring.

Bay Community Bank will be running a food drive for 2 weeks prior to Day of Caring.

The City of Williamsburg is running a food drive through the 12th of September. 

B.   Back to School Celebration Thursday, September 4, 2008, Grove Christian Outreach Center - help with set up, help with the games, rides and activities for the kids, help with the cotton candy and popcorn machines and cooking/serving the hotdogs.  This is a celebration for the kids to usher in the new school year - prizes for all the games are school supplies.  Really need 2 clowns and a balloon maker.  Enough projects for up to 30 volunteers from 3pm to 8pm.  (help to clean up is really essential).  Assigned to 47 volunteers from the Grove Community and 12 volunteers from Howell Marketing.

C.  Historic Triangle Senior Center, Longhill Road on Thursday, September 11 from 9am to 12 noon.  Project:  help with the sewing, crochet, knitting group.  Need 1 to 2 volunteers.

NOTE:  We need in-kind donations of the following:  Paint, stain, materials for a closet organizing system (Avalon), outdoor light fixture . . . Please call Zena at 253-2264 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   for more details.

Agencies that are able to provide lunch and/or refreshments have noted that on their project information.  All volunteers will be provided with water and healthy snacks sponsored by the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation.

1.    Meals on Wheels - 8 volunteers to drive with regular volunteers to help deliver lunchtime meals.  Begins at 11am, parking permits will be given to volunteers - car pooling is suggested due to low number of parking spaces.  No more than 8 Volunteers. Assigned to 8 volunteers from Townebank.

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2.   Williamsburg Botanical Gardens - Freedom Park, at Longhill Road and Centerville Road, turn into park and follow down to the gardens.  Project:  Weeding,  mulching, planting flowers, etc.  No special materials or supplies needed (may want to bring gloves and sunblock).  Lunch will be provided. Number of volunteers is unlimited.   Assigned to 2 volunteers from the Chamber, 7 volunteers from Target, 7 volunteers from The Old Point National Bank.

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3.  United Way of Greater Williamsburg.  Citizens mailing letter stuffing event.  2-day event held out at The Landings, Landings residence help with putting together aprox. 6,000 letters that are mailed to community residents to help support the 2008 campaign.  Assigned to The Landings Residents - 100 volunteers.

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4. Children's Home Society.  Project: Baby Shower.  Colonial Williamsburg employees hold a "baby shower" to collect items like new born outfits, blankets, toys, bottles, etc. to donate to Children's Home Society, a representative from the agency visits the employee's and expresses the thanks of the agency and the people the donations help.  Assigned to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.  NOTE:  If you are interested in running your own baby shower, please call Zena at 253-2264 for more details.

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