More than 2,000 volunteers showed how much they care about their community last week as part of Days of Caring. The three-day volunteer event hosted by Trident United Way organized hundreds of volunteers to complete projects at 75 local nonprofits, schools and agencies.
This year marked the 25th anniversary of Days of Caring, the area’s largest community volunteer event. Each year, Trident United Way matches nonprofit organizations and schools with teams who give of their time and skill.
From Nov. 19 to Nov. 21, businesses, school groups, and individuals took on a variety of projects all around Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties – everything from painting and landscaping to packing food boxes and planting trees.
Days of Caring 2025 By the Numbers:
- More than 2,000 volunteers
- 151 projects
- 75 nonprofits, schools and agencies
- 8,000 total volunteer hours
- An impact valued at about $265,000
Katherine Torbush, Trident United Way director of strategic volunteer engagement, said this year’s event is an example of the power of volunteerism.
“For the volunteers, it’s an opportunity to see firsthand the needs of our community. And, for our nonprofits, the value of volunteers is huge,” she said. “They are able to complete projects and tasks they might otherwise not have the capacity to complete. With volunteer help, they can direct more of their resources to supporting those in need.”
Stephanie Shuster is a senior vice president in technology with Bank of America. She volunteered to help a homeowner with a roofing project as well as replacing rotted stairs and installing a safety bar in the shower.
“Bank of America has an enormous volunteer commitment,” Shuster said. “We love Day of Caring because it’s exactly that – a day of caring. And, personally, I love to volunteer. It’s part of my heart.”
On Sept. 11, 2001, Trident United Way hosted its second Day of Caring. The next year the daylong volunteer event was purposely scheduled for the first anniversary of 9/11. That year's Day of Caring became a meaningful way for the community to honor those lost in the terrorist attacks.
What was a single day of service has become a three-day event with far-reaching impacts. Trident United Way moved the event to November to coincide with the holiday season when a number of local organizations need extra hands.
Carmen Hanlon is the beautification manager for the City of Charleston Recreation Department. During Days of Caring, volunteers were hard at work in the gardens, adding mulch and compost, planting flowers and trees, and installing pathway pavers.
Hanlon’s department looks forward to Days of Caring all year. It’s a game changer, she said.
With a large number of volunteers, they are able to complete projects that have long been on their wish list and that might not otherwise get accomplished.
“Seeing the wish list getting completed is so exciting for us,” Hanlon said. “It’s almost like Christmas Day.”
For more information about Trident United Way visit www.tuw.org.