Day of Caring 2025: A Community United in Action
On a sunny and beautiful September Friday in West Michigan, volunteers across the community were mobilized for Day of Caring. Over 800 volunteers, from all corners of Allegan, Kent, and Ottawa counties, came together for one purpose: to invest in our community and support our neighbors.
In a single day, volunteers rolled up their sleeves; some wearing hairnets, others bringing their power tools. Together, they supported 78 volunteer projects at different nonprofit organizations. Each made a difference in their own way.
The event, organized by Heart of West Michigan United Way, was a partnership between local businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations. The goal: to mobilize the energy of hundreds of volunteers and direct it toward high-impact projects in a single day. As a result, over 2,100 volunteer hours were recorded, representing a value of more than $70,000 poured back into West Michigan.
But those numbers only tell part of the story. The true impact was in the connections made, stories shared between volunteers, and the collective sense of a thriving community for all. One volunteer shared that they loved working alongside coworkers as a team-building experience. Another said, “It always feels good to give back. Even if it’s just the gift of time.”
One organization, One Day Niche, was grateful to host roughly 60 volunteers across two properties. Volunteers assisted with cleaning, organizing, preparing meals, interacting with residents, and even caring for farm animals. Their help played a huge role in getting programs settled before the upcoming winter.
To top it off, volunteers were invited to a community lunch at Millennium Park—a chance to replenish after a morning of service or find inspiration before heading to an afternoon project. With five local food trucks on site, teams connected further over good food, shared stories from their project sites, and celebrated the day’s accomplishments.
As we reflect on 31 years of impact through Day of Caring, we look forward to continuing this momentum into the future. Each year offers new opportunities to strengthen partnerships, welcome new volunteers, and expand the reach of this day even deeper into West Michigan.
Together, we are creating a more resilient West Michigan.