2016WebHeaderDOCFingersPoinUnited Way of the Mid-South kicks off its resource development drive on Friday, September 16 as roughly 1,000 volunteers across the region unite to perform service works at local nonprofits for Day of Caring. This year, United Way expands the kickoff event with 3 rally sites:

1.) East: International Paper, 6400 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN
2.) Downtown: The National Civil Rights Museum, 450 Mulberry St., Memphis, TN
3.) Fayette County: Fayette Cares, 13300 North Main St., Somerville, TN

Rallies begin shortly before 8:00 a.m. and end shortly before 9:00 a.m. as volunteers leave to serve at predetermined nonprofit agency worksites.

“Day of Caring has a 20-year tradition of matching volunteers and nonprofits to create our largest volunteerism impact event of the year,” said Dave Skorupa, Director of Communications at United Way. “Our Community Engagement team has been hard at work creating this tremendous opportunity to ‘live united and solve it together’ for over 1,000 volunteers, who are joining our fight against poverty by helping nonprofits and impacting lives.”

Volunteers from local businesses and organizations including FedEx, International Paper, Belz Enterprises, Caesar’s Entertainment, and Kroger are providing large volunteer teams. Team sizes vary, as does the service work each team performs.

J.W. Gibson II is the 2016-17 General Campaign Chairman for United Way, leading the organization’s resource development efforts across the Mid-South. Gibson is Chairman and CEO of Gibson Companies, Inc. Jerry Collins, Jr. is the Chairman of the United Way Board of Directors. Collins is President and CEO of MLGW. The two Memphis business leaders will attend the Memphis rallies to help begin the region-wide Day of Caring event.

Volunteers will participate in a wide variety of projects including landscaping, painting, grounds improvements, interacting with children and adults with special needs and other work contributing to our common good.