United Way Day of Caring was Thursday, April 17 where more than 700 volunteers from all over Northwest Arkansas came together to give back to non-profits in the area. The United Way considers the value of a highly trained volunteer to be $18.77, and with over 700 volunteers, we put close to $90,000 back into the community in just one day! Thanks to the great volunteers and the United Way for making the Day of Caring possible.

Youth Bridge was lucky enough to have four different projects going on with a total of close to 30 volunteers working hard. In Fayetteville volunteers planted a vegetable and berry garden at our Copper Creek House (16-18 year old homeless and runaway girls), cleaned up and painted the deck at our Zion House (long-term foster care girls ages 13-17) and painted and stained the deck at our Julie House (The Fayetteville Junior Civic League Transitional Living Program for homeless and runaway youth ages 18-22). All of the volunteers also helped weed, pick up limbs, gather trash and make our Fayetteville houses and their yards look great. Now these houses really look like homes!

In Centerton we had a very active group who built heavy duty shelves to hold all the food in the dining room. Clients were having to share their dining space with various tables and bookshelves to hold all their food. Now they can relax and enjoy the dining room without being cramped. Our volunteers also cleaned up flower beds, weeded and mulched to make the Centerton offices and shelter grounds look beautiful.

Youth Bridge always has volunteer opportunities for individuals or groups and would love to match you up with a project. If you’d like to volunteer or learn more about the United Way’s Day of Caring, please call Holland Hayden Jensen at 479-575-9471.

Photos from the Day of Caring