20th Anniversary Day of Caring
Founding Committee Member Recollections
Phyllis Lester
On why she got involved with volunteering
“My intention in life is to do the best I can while I’m here. My mother raised me to accept service as the way it was going to be. And I was fortunate to have a high school teacher (and fellow Day of Caring committee member) Russell Costley who guided me in the same way.”
Gus Wolf
On the formation of United Way in Calvert County
“If you are a small town in the Midwest and your community has problems (like homelessness or domestic violence,) you have your church at the town that brings the community together. But Calvert County is a long peninsula of land with many neighborhoods and churches. It really is the United Way that provided the glue to bring community organizations and churches together to face these issues.”
Russell Costley
On working together to lead Day of Caring
“People that volunteered (for United Way Board or Day of Caring committee) were from different churches and careers. When we came together to make decisions, the opinions might have come from people of different paths, but we all came together to get it done.”
Bob Sheranko
On volunteers connecting with agencies
“A lot of people over the years got connected with an agency at Day of Caring, and then they stayed involved. Our nonprofits as a whole are frugal, so they are very appreciative for what they get.”
Brian Davis
On pulling together through crisis of 911
“In 2001, Day of Caring fell on September 12. I was in my car picking up supplies for the next day when I heard what had happened. I came back to the United Way House, and we had to make a decision about whether to move forward with Day of Caring. We decided to let the agencies decide in concert with the volunteers. About half of the projects continued the next day and by the third week after 911, all of the projects had been completed. Many volunteers said the experience was cathartic for them.”
Past Day of Caring Pictures
Click here to see pictures from previous years.
