FLORENCE – By 9 a.m. on September 19, the parking lot at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area was buzzing with the sound of hedge trimmers and leaf blowers.
City of Florence employees in matching T-shirts pulled weeds as Assurant team members moved inside to wash windows, clean blinds and change out air filters. Across town, GE HealthCare employees painted porch columns at Durant Children’s Center while Thermo Fisher Scientific’s team replaced pine straw around the nonprofit’s grounds.
It wasn’t just coincidence. It was part of the 34th annual Day of Caring, organized by United Way of Florence County. More than 300 volunteers from 31 companies spent the day completing 85 projects across the community, contributing an estimated 1,200 hours of service. In addition, local companies supplied about $8,200 worth of materials to make the projects possible.
The event kicked off with a brief breakfast program at First Presbyterian Church, where ADP was recognized for bringing the largest volunteer group with 35 participants, and Otis Elevator was honored for completing the most projects at 15. Shortly after a team building activity, teams were sent off to begin their projects.
Projects ranged from painting, yard work and cleaning to supply and food drives. At several sites, volunteers worked directly alongside nonprofit staff and clients, creating opportunities for connection while completing long-needed tasks.
For many companies, the event not only benefited nonprofits — it also served as a team-building opportunity. GE HealthCare turned out more than 30 employees who completed nine projects in the community.
“Day of Caring is one of the best ways for our teams to step out of their usual roles and work together in a different environment,” said Scott Olsen, executive plant manager at GE HealthCare. “It brings our teams closer together and boosts morale, but it also reminds us that the teamwork we practice in the workplace has just as much power to make a difference in the community. What we accomplish together outside the factory is every bit as meaningful as the work we do inside it.”
The impact of Day of Caring could be felt not just at nonprofit partners, but also at United Way of Florence County itself. Volunteers from Assurant, Accountable Insurance Partners, Duke Energy and The Post and Courier Pee Dee took on yard work, painting, cleaning, organizing and even photography of the event. For Julia Fulmer, United Way’s director of community impact and marketing, who experienced her first Day of Caring this year, the day was eye-opening.
“I was honestly blown away by how many people showed up just to help,” Fulmer said. “Everywhere I drove, I’d spot groups in matching shirts and instantly know they were part of Day of Caring. It was such a cool sight. When I came back to the office, I could hardly recognize it. Volunteers had tackled projects we’d needed to do for a long time but never had the time or staff to handle, and they finished it in just half a day. It’s been days since the event, and we still smile when we see what these teams accomplished in the office.”
United Way of Florence County President Cameron Campbell said the event highlights what can be accomplished through collaboration.
“Day of Caring is one of the most powerful examples of what happens when individuals, businesses and nonprofits unite around a shared goal: strengthening our community,” Campbell said. “We are extremely grateful to every volunteer who dedicated their time, and to our generous sponsors who make this day possible year after year.”