It seems like every few months, there’s a new study or journal article about the benefits of volunteering. Countless journals attribute volunteerism to higher levels of social connection, and in recent years, Carnegie Mellon University published in Psychology and Aging that adults over age 50 who volunteered regularly were less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers.
Our staff at UWABC could fill a book with all the reasons we adore volunteering, but that’s not what this article is about. We’re here to show you that volunteering with United Way plugs you into an even larger network than just our local Buncombe County community. Because when you use our Hands On Asheville-Buncombe website to volunteer, you’re not only making a connection with the organization you're volunteering with—you’re connecting to us, and from us to the larger international United Way network.
The United Way Worldwide’s Day of Action, which took place throughout the month of June, was an empowering month filled with volunteer opportunities. This initiative was implemented by hundreds of United Ways across our nation. Imagine thousands of volunteers throughout the country mobilizing for youth opportunity, community resiliency, financial security, and a healthier community—all of which are focus areas of United Way Worldwide. It was a powerful scene.
This June, UWABC worked with local businesses and community volunteers to bring in-state and out-of-state volunteers to donate their time—and their companies’ time—toward the focus areas of Youth Opportunity and Community Resilience
Highlights from Our 4 June Days of Action
Erwin Middle School and Truist Bank
This day was filled with some heavy lifting and the challenge of working on several tasks throughout the volunteer time. The UWABC Community School Coordinator desperately needed volunteers to move donations to another space, organize them, and set up a beautiful lounge for teachers to use during the school day. It was a fun day filled with creativity as the team worked together to make the lounge area cozy for teachers.
Owen Middle School and First Citizens Bank
Moving can be stressful, and our Community School Coordinator, Josh Wells, at Owen Middle was feeling the pressure of having to switch classrooms after being in his resource room for over seven years! However, the First Citizens team came in and excitedly organized everything in the resource room into moving boxes. What was once a busy classroom filled with supplies for students and families became a space that was ready to move efficiently, providing much-needed relief for the school staff and Josh.
Enka Middle School with Tanger Outlets
A garden bed filled with weeds—it’s a sight we all know and most of us want to be rid of. That was the case at Enka Middle School. Their community garden had grown wild during the school year. The Tanger Outlet crew didn’t hesitate to roll up their sleeves and grab a shovel. We listened to music as we pulled weeds. Their crew even spotted the need for more mulch and personally brought mulch to Enka to ensure the school could have a beautiful garden at an affordable cost.
All Souls with Hands On Volunteers
This project brought people from across Buncombe together to paint! All Souls offers mental health services across Western North Carolina and has been integral in the recovery and community resilience efforts following Hurricane Helene. While everyone worked together, laughing while the walls dried, the highlight of the day was sitting together to share lunch and hear about the amazing work All Souls does in our community. It was inspiring and gave all volunteers a sense of purpose.
Our June Days of Action were not only about helping four local schools or non-profits- they were a great show of Asheville’s connection. Connection with each other and the greater United Way Worldwide network- a network filled with dedicated staff, thousands of business partners, non-profits, and individuals all working together to show up and support a more thriving and united community
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