UNITED WAY ROCK RIVER VALLEY
Day of Caring
Friday, September 18, 2026
United. Together. In Service to Winnebago County.
Join us for the 2026 Day of Caring, a community-wide volunteer event where individuals and teams work side by side to make a meaningful, hands-on difference in our county.
Day of Caring unites corporate teams to serve local nonprofit agencies and community organizations. Whether planting gardens, assembling kits, cleaning spaces, or supporting community programs, your time fuels lasting impact across Winnebago County.
This year, Day of Caring also serves as the official launch of our 2026–27 giving season, making it one of the most meaningful days on our calendar.
If you're an agency looking to submit a project, start here.
Event Details
Friday, September 18, 2026
8:00 AM — Breakfast & Kickoff
9:00 AM — Volunteering Projects Begin
This event is built on collaboration and commitment. Your organization does not have to be a current United Way Rock River Valley Corporate Partner to participate.
Why It Matters
Day of Caring is more than a single morning of service — it’s a celebration of what we can do when we work together. By lending your time, energy, and teamwork, you help strengthen nonprofits that support children, families, seniors, and neighbors across our community.
Volunteers leave inspired, connected, and more deeply invested in the place we all call home.
Volunteer With Your Team
Volunteers leave inspired. They discover nonprofits doing work they never knew existed, and find purpose in something bigger than the workday. For many teams, it's the highlight of their year.
Day of Caring is a chance to:
- Build team camaraderie
- Support local organizations in visible, hands-on ways
- Show what corporate citizenship looks like in action
- Create a shared experience that sticks
Get Involved
If your company is an active United Way Rock River Valley Corporate Partner*, your organization automatically qualifies to register at the Corporate Partner Sponsor level ($250 value) at no additional cost. This is our way of saying thank you for the impact you’re already making in our community.
If you're not a current Corporate Partner, you can still register to participate. This year we're opening up Day of Caring to ALL of our community businesses.
If you have questions about corporate participation or community projects, connect with our team. We're here to help!
Cherice Ullrich
Corporate Engagement Manager
cherice@unitedwayrrv.org
Direct: (815) 968-9048
*A Corporate Partner is defined as any business who has donated in the past fiscal year (July 1, 2025- June 30, 2026) through employee giving, sponsorships, special events, or a corporate gift.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS: START HERE
Day of Caring Project Requests
Nonprofit organizations and community partners are encouraged to submit a project request to participate in Day of Caring. Projects are open to all nonprofits in Winnebago County, including local agencies, service clubs, public schools, municipal partners, and community organizations.
Project approval is based on capacity and the number of volunteer teams that register by the deadline. Please complete the project request form for consideration.
Participating Agency FAQs
What kinds of projects do nonprofits submit for Day of Caring?
It depends on your organization's needs, creativity, and resources. Projects have included, but are not limited to:
- Yardwork and landscaping (ex. weeding, trimming bushes)
- Planting flowers and laying mulch
- Deep cleaning (ex. rugs, chairs)
- Power washing
- Classroom painting and organization
- Supply/pantry organization
- Donation room sorting
- Painting Born Learning trails
- Assembling furniture and playground equipment
- Maintaining outdoor education spaces
- Clerical or administrative projects
- Book distribution preparation (ex. stickering and packing books)
- Neighborhood trash clean-up
- Deck and fence painting
I have questions about whether or not our project would be a good fit.
Ask us! Send an email to cherice@unitedwayrrv.org and we'll do our best to accommodate you. Safety is our top priority. United Way Rock River Valley reviews all project requests and reserves the right to refuse any, for any reason.
What will our agency need to do to prepare for Day of Caring?
We suggest appointing a Project Lead for each project within your organization. This person is responsible for planning, gathering supplies, and developing instructions.
If you're a lean team, consider asking a board member or volunteer to step up to the plate. If you have satellite locations, you should have a Project Lead at each facility. Please keep safety top of mind in all preparations.
What timeframe should we plan for volunteers to be at our project?
Be ready to welcome your corporate volunteers between 8:45am and 9:00am. We recommend scoping your project to take a group of volunteers roughly 2-4 hours to complete. This helps us match the right size and skill set of team to your needs.
We have multiple projects we'd like volunteers to help with. Can we submit more than one?
Yes, agencies can submit multiple volunteer projects for consideration! Please answer the question on the project request form about additional project requests.
May we ask volunteers to bring items to complete the project?
Yes, but your agency is responsible for all required supplies, materials, tools, and equipment that volunteers would need to complete the project. You may suggest that volunteers bring their own items that are not essential to project completion but may be helpful, such as work or gardening gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, and kneeling pads.
What happens if there is bad weather on Day of Caring and our project is outdoors?
There is no rain date for Day of Caring, so we strongly encourage agencies to have an alternative indoor project if possible. You will be asked to describe this alternative project on the request form and to indicate if you could accommodate the same number of volunteers.
What happens after I submit the project request form?
After you register a project, our Day of Caring committee will reach out to you to set up a time to visit your requested project site(s). Following this visit, you will receive an email indicating if your project request was approved and when you can expect to be notified about which corporate team has been placed at your agency.
Will additional communication about Day of Caring be provided?
Yes. You will receive notification of what team(s) have been assigned to your project(s) 1-2 weeks in advance of Day of Caring. You will also receive a checklist to help you prepare for the volunteers. Our Day of Caring committee will be available to assist you in communication with your corporate volunteer team. Otherwise, submit any questions to cherice@unitedwayrrv.org.
Should we publicize our Day of Caring participation on social media?
