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United Way Estevan will be capping off May this year, with the 28th featuring United Way Estevan members going around the community to help out with odd jobs and community projects. The Day of Caring features work for both community members in need and member agencies that want help with a project that will benefit the wider community.
Wendy Gustafson, a board member and a co-chair for the United Way Day of Caring Committee, talks about their previous successes.
"It is the support of the city and the surrounding area that has made our Day of Caring very successful for the number of years that we've done it. As you know, with our telethon, we have such great support. So, we feel that on the Day of Caring, it's a good time for us to give back to the community and to the people who have supported us."
Gustafson says the day is possible thanks to a large number of volunteers who help out over the course of the day, putting in a lot of work.
"We meet at 9 in the morning, and we have morning projects, we have afternoon projects, and we have some all-day projects. So, when people sign up, they let us know if they're able to work in the morning, or the afternoon, or the full day. So, we've got a little bit of everything."
Jobs can include planting plants, raking lawns, painting fences, and even more.
It's a lot of work, but Gustafson says that helping out the community makes it worth the effort.
"The people are so appreciative of anything that we do for them. And part of the Day of Caring is just being there sometimes for people that maybe don't have the support, and they love to stand and visit."
As part of that, the United Way holds a barbecue at noon, which Gustafson encourages both the volunteers and the people being helped to stop by and enjoy some food..