On September 17, 2025, United Way Fox Cities brought back the “Day of Caring” after two decades, and the community showed up in a big way. More than 100 volunteers joined in to lend a hand at local nonprofits, turning care into action across the Fox Valley.

Volunteers contributed across six local nonprofits, helping with a wide range of projects and essential services: preparing meals at St. Joseph Food Program, deep cleaning at Pillars Adult and Family Shelter, refreshing clothing stock and making tie blankets at Community Clothes Closet, sorting and bagging shoes for Child Care Resource and Referral’s shoe drive, organizing and cleaning at Fox Valley Memory Project, and repacking diapers for the Kimberly-Clark Eastern Wisconsin Diaper Bank.

The VPI Early Intervention Program of Outagamie and Winnebago Counties had a team of volunteers at the Kimberly-Clark Eastern Wisconsin Diaper Bank. As they helped repack diapers, they learned that an average of 60,000 diapers are distributed into the community each month. The experience gave them new insight into the need for supplemental diapers, which will help them in their own work serving families.

LEAD United, a United Way Fox Cities engagement group, organized the day to reconnect individuals with their community through volunteering. Since the pandemic, in-person volunteerism had been disrupted, and many organizations were still working to rebuild their volunteer base even as needs in the Fox Cities continued to grow.

“We liked to say this day was a springboard for volunteering,” said Meghan Sherwood, United Way Fox Cities associate director of community engagement. “More and more, people want flexible volunteering events to fit their busy schedules, and this was a way to make a difference in just one day.”

Sherwood noted that while corporations in the Fox Valley continued to support volunteer activities during work hours, the need for long-term volunteer commitment outside of work remained strong.

“It’s fun to have an ‘Instagram volunteer moment,’ but we hoped this day would connect individuals to the missions and needs of the nonprofits and would be a catalyst for committee work or even board service,” Sherwood said.

The volunteers spoke about the impact of the day, one sharing: “There’s a lot of need in our community, and it feels great to get involved.”

Melissa Jagodinski of Volunteer Fox Cities underscored the importance of both one-day events and sustained service. “Our community depends on volunteerism—both during special events like Day of Caring and through the dedication of long-term volunteers. The need in the Fox Valley is great, and there’s a place for everyone to get involved. This fall, we encourage you to give back in whatever way you can.”

Day of Caring was a collaboration between United Way Fox Cities and Volunteer Fox Cities.