Thursday will be the Centre County United Way’s twenty-first annual “Day of Caring,” but it will be the first without founder Col. Gerald Russell.
Russell was many things: a war hero, an alternate for the 1940 Olympics, and a man devoted to service and community.
“We are renaming this event to honor him,” United Way communications coordinator Megan Evans says. “From now on, this will be known as the Col. Gerald Russell Day of Caring.”
Evans says the premise of the event hasn’t changed since Russell founded it, but it has grown. Over twenty years ago, the first small group of volunteers took part in various projects like painting and construction to benefit local non-profit groups.
Thursday’s event will see 1,400 participants taking part in over 60 public service projects all over Centre County – including State College, Bald Eagle, Penns Valley and more, Evans says.
With supplies provided with the help of Home Depot and Lowes – and sponsorship from PNC Bank – the day of caring will provide valuable labor to non-profits ranging from libraries and historical sites to nursing homes and pre-schools.
Evans says that without this Day of Caring, these organizations would have to strain their often-limited budgets and take time away from serving their clients to perform tasks like painting, renovation and resurfacing.
Evans says the event also gives these organizations the chance to spread the word about their services and programing through these volunteers, deepening their connection with their community. For the United Way, the day helps show that it “is so much more than just a fundraising organization.”
“The Colonel started this because he wanted people to have a meaningful way to give back their community, and he believed in the work that these non-profits are doing,” Evans says.
Those interested in volunteering for the Col. Gerald Russell Day of Caring can do so by clicking here. You can also obtain more information by calling Beth Shaha at the Centre County United Way office at 814-238-8283.
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