Stacks of boxes, shelves of food and palettes of other goods filled the warehouse at Johnson County Senior Services.
The room was so packed it was difficult to see across the room, and moving around proved a challenge. The items had to be rearranged to allow for a shelving project at the organization, a job that would require considerable time and effort.
Thankfully, an army of volunteers from Mutual Savings Bank and Duke Energy were on hand to tackle it.
“We live and work here in Johnson County, so it’s more than helping our customer base. It’s helping our neighbors, our friends, our family members,” said Jean Renk, community relations manager for Duke Energy. “This is our community.”
Their volunteer work, and similar projects unfolding across the county, marked the start of the most important time of year for the United Way of Johnson County. On Wednesday, 133 individuals from area businesses fanned out across the county to do service projects for area agencies in what has become known as the Day of Caring.
Prior to that, the United Way had kicked off its annual fundraising campaign, as more than 70 people gathered for an indoor picnic breakfast and rally.
The day was a symbolic start for United Way supporters giving time to benefit the community before spending the upcoming months raising money ensuring aid for the most vulnerable Johnson County residents.
“It’s a celebration of kicking off the largest fundraising event in the county, and getting people to group together to be recognized, as well as build that excitement to getting the campaign started,” said Nancy Lohr Plake, executive director of the United Way of Johnson County.
The clacking din of plastic clappers echoed through Scott Hall as the energy level grew. People spread out in camp chairs and blankets throughout the hall, cheering for the work the United Way had done over the past 60 years, as well as acknowledging what would be needed for the future.
They heard from United Way leadership about the importance their donations would make. Representatives from four local agencies — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Girls Inc. of Johnson County, Johnson County Senior Services and the Children’s Bureau — shared what the United Way’s support meant to the people they serve.
“The United Way has really gone above and beyond this past 17 months to serve the agencies,” said Sonya Ware Maguiar, executive director of Girls Inc. of Johnson County. “The staff, as you all know if you work with them, are phenomenal people, very caring people who give sweat, blood and tears to this community to meet the needs of folks.”
Despite a wet day that forced last minute changes in location and other aspects of the morning’s program, the rain couldn’t dampen their excitement.
“Each year presents its own challenge and obstacles to raise enough dollars to support the good work of the United Way of Johnson County, of its many agencies and programs. As you know, this year has presented a truly unique set of challenges in all aspects of our lives,” said Scott Powell, a United Way of Johnson County board member and this year’s campaign chair. “This year, we need you now more than ever to help us be successful in the meeting of our goal in supporting those in the community in need.”
The Day of Caring started 25 years ago, created as a kickoff for the United Way’s annual campaign. The campaign is the lifeblood of the United Way, generating 94% of the money used for programs that support youth, seniors, people at risk of homelessness and local families throughout Johnson County, among others in need.
A pandemic-hampered 2020 put stress on the entire community, particularly social service agencies that served those who had lost jobs or needed additional assistance.
The United Way had an altered campaign, and through donations and support, raised more than $1.4 million.
“We’re very fortunate that not one of our companies that support us said ‘no’ last year,” Plake said.
With this year’s campaign, the United Way of Johnson County has set a goal of $1,505,000 million to support 17 social service agencies and offer eight direct service programs, benefiting more than 28,000 Johnson County residents.
“For many of these agencies, we’re the foundation for their agency,” Plake said. “That probably came to light even more last year, when many of them weren’t able to do fundraisers and also lost program money.”
Already, three local businesses have started their campaigns. Mutual Savings Bank has pledged $13,437, while Caterpillar Remanufacturing Franklin has a goal of $65,000.
The team at Earlywood Educational Services raised $8,228, up 47% from 2020.
Sufficiently pumped up, the group broke up to head out to their service assignments. Employees from 19 companies volunteered to do landscaping, paint buildings, organize offices and do other work for local social service agencies.
The rain postponed some of the projects, such as members from KYB Americas Corp. and First Financial Bank waiting to head to Camp Belzer in Lawrence to volunteer for the Boy Scouts. A team from Electro-Spec had planned on helping install playground equipment at Head Start. That too was pushed to a day with better weather.
But plenty of work was still completed.
Volunteers from Franklin Community Schools filled Girls Inc. to help paint its Franklin headquarters. United HealthCare assisted Reach for Youth with cleaning and painting. A group from the City of Greenwood used their muscle to organize the offices at the Social of Greenwood.
A few participants also took part in no-contact projects. A group from Cummins Inc. helped call United Way volunteers to thank them for their time and efforts. Horizon Bank provided thanks and appreciation for employees at Johnson Memorial Health for everything they had done throughout the pandemic.
Duke Energy, which has done a variety of community service projects over the years, had nine employees from the Franklin and Shelbyville operation centers.
“It’s a great way to get our employees out into the community on pre-arranged projects that are impactful,” Renk said.
At the Children’s Bureau, City of Greenwood human resources employees Lisa Vest and Heather Kitchen filled resource bags with journals, resource guides and other items to give to local Department of Child Services offices. Other volunteers were going to put together furniture and paint a visitation area for families and outpatients.
City employees Rob Kolb, the network administrator, and Jon Schrader, manager of the Fieldhouse, hauled car seats, backpacks and boxes, helping to rearrange and organize a donation pantry for clients to the agency. Adam Burnett, a member of the Greenwood Police Department, was painting cabinets.
A number of the participants had been doing the Day of Caring multiple times. To be able to give their time in their own community made it a priority every year.
“We wanted to do our part to help out the community,” Kolb said.
