Community Impact
United Way Day of Caring brings volunteers together
Christine Melice, a community volunteer, organizes supplies at the Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Horton Hill Road Lodge during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21.
Community volunteer Nelson Garifi participates in activities with seniors at Chautauqua Adult Day Services in Jamestown during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21.
A volunteer from Refresco is pictured here helping clean and organize at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County as part of United Way's second annual Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. Volunteers contributed 332 hours of service to local nonprofits and schools across Chautauqua County.
A Univera Healthcare volunteer and Leslie Wille, United Way of Chautauqua County director of growth and engagement, carry chairs outside for cleaning at Chautauqua Safety Village during Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. Day of Caring 2026 was sponsored by Univera Healthcare in partnership with Live CHQ.
From left, David Meekins of Edward Jones, Eileen Ardillo of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and an agency volunteer package kits for seniors at Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. The project was one of 13 sites supported by volunteers as part of the countywide day of service.
Christine Melice, a community volunteer, organizes supplies at the Girl Scouts of Western New York’s Horton Hill Road Lodge during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21.
Community volunteer Nelson Garifi participates in activities with seniors at Chautauqua Adult Day Services in Jamestown during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21.
A volunteer from Refresco is pictured here helping clean and organize at the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County as part of United Way's second annual Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. Volunteers contributed 332 hours of service to local nonprofits and schools across Chautauqua County.
A Univera Healthcare volunteer and Leslie Wille, United Way of Chautauqua County director of growth and engagement, carry chairs outside for cleaning at Chautauqua Safety Village during Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. Day of Caring 2026 was sponsored by Univera Healthcare in partnership with Live CHQ.
From left, David Meekins of Edward Jones, Eileen Ardillo of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and an agency volunteer package kits for seniors at Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels during United Way of Chautauqua County’s Day of Caring on Friday, Aug. 21. The project was one of 13 sites supported by volunteers as part of the countywide day of service.
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For the second year, United Way of Chautauqua County successfully mobilized volunteers from the community to benefit schools and local nonprofits as part of the 2026 Day of Caring.
Held on Friday, Aug. 21, the second annual Day of Caring kicked off with dual morning gatherings in Dunkirk and Jamestown where volunteers and sponsors gathered with United Way staff before heading out to project sites. By the end of the day, more than 80 volunteers had contributed a total of 332 hours of service to agencies in need.
From painting and landscaping to organizing donations, supplies and supporting programs for children, families and seniors, this year's Day of Caring had 82 individual volunteers who filled 95 volunteer slots across 13 project sites in Dunkirk, Fredonia, Jamestown and Ashville.
"Day of Caring continues to show the power of partnership," said Eric Rinaldo, United Way of Chautauqua County community impact manager. "We bring together businesses, volunteers, schools and nonprofit organizations, and put all of those connections to work in a very tangible way. These projects may look different from site to site, but they all have the same goal -- helping our community and the people who live here."
Day of Caring 2026 was sponsored by Univera Healthcare in partnership with Live CHQ, with volunteers supporting from Refresco, Wegmans, Edward Jones Insurance Agency, Chautauqua Chemicals, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, CHQ Professionals Group, Putnam Record Insurance Agency, Jamestown Community Learning Council, Cassadaga Job Corps, and Univera.
For more than 100 years, United Way has been the trusted nonprofit in Chautauqua County to mobilize the community and drive lasting change. The agencies and schools that benefited from this year's Day of Caring included: Chautauqua Safety Village, Chautauqua Striders, Wheelock Early Childhood Center in Fredonia, Chautauqua Adult Day Services in Dunkirk and Jamestown, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, A Children's Place, Prevention Works, Girl Scouts of Western New York, The Resource Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County - and United Way's Dunkirk office.
"The impact of Day of Caring is catalytic," said Amy Rohler, United Way of Chautauqua County executive director. "It starts with a volunteer willing to give their time, but that time becomes an investment in an organization, a program and ultimately the people that organization serves. Just as importantly, volunteers walk away with new connections and a deeper understanding of the work happening in their own community. That's the kind of lasting impact we want to build through Day of Caring."
Every volunteer received a United Way t-shirt as a symbol of their participation in Day of Caring.
Day of Caring will continue as an annual tradition, according to United Way officials.
The United Way of Chautauqua County kicks off its 2026 Fundraising Campaign at 4:30pm on Wednesday, Sept. 16 on the Bemus Point Stow Ferry. The community is invited to attend.
For more information, visit UnitedWayCHQ.org - or to share interest in volunteering next year, contact Rinaldo at erinaldo@unitedwaychq.org or 716-483-1661.