The United Way's annual Day of Caring was once again a resounding success, bringing together community members across Estevan for a day of giving back.
Co-chair of the Day of Caring Committee Wendy Gustafson said the event, held under sunny skies and near-perfect weather, went very smoothly thanks to strong community support.
“We’re really pleased with how well it went,” Gustafson said. “We had such great volunteer support and lots of good projects. The weather was absolutely perfect, with just enough breeze to keep the bugs away and enough sun to keep people motivated.”
This year’s Day of Caring saw 43 projects completed with the help of around 160 volunteers.
“We had a lot of new projects this year and an extremely high number of volunteers as well,” Gustafson said. “A lot of new people, new faces. It was very encouraging.”
Though the committee had not yet gathered feedback from all the sites, Gustafson said the initial response from both volunteers and recipients was overwhelmingly positive.
“At the lunch, everyone was really pleased with how things were going. We had a lot of compliments from people who received the work, saying how happy they were. Whether it was a small yard or a bigger project, it made a big difference to the person getting the help.”
Gustafson, who has been part of the Day of Caring committee for many years, said the event holds a special place in her heart.
“It’s our way to give back. We get such great support from the community during the telethon, and this is our chance to return that kindness. We’re all tired by the end of the day, but it’s a good tired. It’s very rewarding for me, and I know it is for all the board members too.”
Gustafson extended a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated.
“Whether they were working in the kitchen or raking lawns, whatever they were doing, we couldn’t do this without them. We just appreciate so much the willingness of people to help us make this day such a success.”