Next Tuesday, Aug. 19, is United Way’s Day of Caring at Breese Stevens Field, and it resonates with me in ways it hasn’t before. The world is a bit of a mess. Every day seems to bring a new story of human suffering, and each of those stories contains some evidence of the absence of concern, to say nothing of compassion. Human beings, children and entire families are living in fear, misery and desperation. And people who can do something about it don’t give a damn. So, a “day of caring.” What a concept.
It is not a new concept, of course. United Way of Dane County, or UWDC, has organized the day of volunteering as the kickoff for its annual Community Campaign for almost 25 years now. (Last year’s Community Campaign raised $17.3 million thanks to more than 13,000 people and 500 businesses.) The Day of Caring is a kickoff event where hundreds of people, employees from local businesses, families, groups of friends and community-minded citizens help folks who need it with clean-up, pick-up and fix-up jobs at dozens of designated homes and community spaces. (There are 900 people registered so far for this year’s kickoff.)
It’s an uplifting, positive day that — like United Way of Dane County itself — makes a difference in people’s lives. But, for reasons beyond that, it just feels like we need as many days of caring as we can get right now. And I’m grateful to UWDC for reminding us of that.
Caring — and caring enough to do something about it — is what makes UWDC so special. I believe our county’s United Way stands apart from most United Ways in other communities. Over the last 40 years I’ve been in more UWDC-led meetings than I can count, and I have seen firsthand the level of commitment and dedication, from volunteers, young people, retirees and civic activists, as well as occupants of C-level suites of almost every major business, organization and employer in Dane County. It is a display of trust, confidence and belief that UWDC has earned through decades of hard work, accountability and unparalleled knowledge of Dane County.
The work has included concerted and badly needed efforts that include supporting families, providing housing stability, ensuring children are healthy and able to achieve in school, allowing older adults to enjoy quality lives, and confronting racism and injustice wherever it rears its ugly head. Importantly, UWDC has also demonstrated the wisdom and nimble flexibility to pivot when necessary to address compelling community needs when they arise. And underlying every one of those decisions and action plans — every stay-to-the-end meeting, every hard decision of how to allocate limited resources — is a visible, palpable, explicit expression of caring. People work at, volunteer at and support UWDC because each one of them cares.
There are times I wish United Way of Dane County could change its name. I worry it has become so ubiquitous that we take it for granted: it will always be there, it will always be wisely directing dollars to nonprofit service providers, and it always raises enough money to do that.
But the contrast between the positivity, hope and impact of a Day of Caring, and the often depressing, frightening, soul-sapping times in which we live should motivate us all to give what we can — of our time and/or money, to make sure UWDC really can continue to promote a community that cares. That may require a little more thought and effort given the evolution from traditional workplace giving and paycheck deductions models to now-common online giving. But I’m recommending we make the effort.
There’s still time to register for free to volunteer at the Day of Caring on Aug. 19 at Breese Stevens Field. Or, visit unitedwaydanecounty.org for an invitation to be inspired by the power of many, the kindness of others and how we can incorporate that spirit into our lives in ways that contribute to that effort.
Neil Heinen is a former editorial director of Madison Magazine and News 3 Now. He writes this “I Have Some Thoughts” web-exclusive column monthly.