United Way of Story County Reimagines Day of Caring for 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2026
AMES, Iowa — United Way of Story County (UWSC) is pleased to announce major enhancements to its flagship event: Day of Caring.
Guided by their mission to unite people, ideas, and resources to transform lives in Story County, UWSC invests in strategies that move families from surviving to thriving. The expanded Day of Caring event builds upon its long-time foundation of completing service projects at local nonprofit organizations to create a broader and more inclusive experience for all participants.
“Our annual Day of Caring event has long been the pinnacle of volunteerism in Story County,” said Ashley Thompson, President and CEO of United Way of Story County. “Over the years, thousands of volunteers have come together to serve their neighbors across the county.”
Day of Caring 2026 introduces a dynamic new platform designed to maximize community participation and corporate visibility. This year’s redesign gives volunteers more ways to get involved and a front-row seat to the incredible transformation their work brings to Story County. While the morning remains dedicated to essential service projects at local nonprofit sites, the afternoon will feature a new, centralized kit-building initiative at the ISU Alumni Center.
A major highlight of the redesign is the invitation to families to join the excitement from 3:30 – 4:30pm. During this time, there will be kid-friendly service activities, such as assembling snack packs and planting flowers for delivery to homebound neighbors.
"There is truly room for everyone to participate this year," said Thompson. "In the past, we recognized that some supporters could only commit to a partial day or found certain off-site projects inaccessible. By bringing everyone together in the afternoon, we aren't just providing high-need items to our neighbors, we are strengthening the relationships that bind our community. We are especially thrilled to welcome families; the spirit of service is most powerful when it begins at a young age."
To support this increased scale of impact, UWSC is introducing a limited number of Day of Caring Sponsorships. These roles allow local businesses to position themselves as philanthropic leaders while directly funding the materials for hundreds of essential care kits. Through this investment, sponsors serve as the backbone of an event that fosters both immediate relief and long-term community connections.
Expanding this event is a vital step toward achieving our 2030 Community Impact goals. By broadening the scope of Day of Caring, we are intentionally creating a space where residents from all walks of life can forge meaningful connections through shared service. This collective action does more than provide essential items to our neighbors in need, it strengthens the social fabric of Story County. Every kit assembled and every conversation sparked helps build the collaborative momentum required to meet our long-term objectives for Bright Futures, Financial Empowerment, and Collective Well-Being across our community.
For more information, please visit uwstory.org/day-of-caring.
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About United Way of Story County
United Way of Story County mobilizes our community to create lasting change. Founded in 1953, we unite people, ideas, and resources to transform lives across Story County, working toward our vision of a connected and thriving community.
As a trusted leader and convener, our approach is simple yet powerful: we believe transformation happens when neighbors, businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers unite around shared goals. Through strategic investments in Bright Futures, Financial Empowerment, and Collective Well-Being, we tackle root causes of community challenges while building the connections that make Story County stronger.
True to our founding spirit, whenever there is a need in our community, United Way of Story County is there — listening, responding, and creating solutions that last. Learn more at www.uwstory.org.
Media Contact:
Allee Wengert
Marketing Director, United Way of Story County
515.268.5142
awengert@uwstory.org