United Way of Payne County celebrates 30 years of Day of Caring
STILLWATER, OK, Sept. 18, 2026 – More than 600 volunteers came together Thursday for United Way of Payne County’s 30th annual Day of Caring, completing 133 service projects for nonprofit agencies, community organizations and the people they serve throughout Payne County.
The day began with a volunteer breakfast, where participants gathered to learn more about the projects ahead and prepare for a day of service. Local restaurants helped fuel the volunteers by donating food for the morning meal.
After breakfast, volunteers headed out across Payne County to tackle projects ranging from hands-on maintenance and beautification to other tasks that help local nonprofit organizations better serve their clients.
“I’ve been looking for ways to serve in the community since retiring, and this was a great opportunity to get started,” Cyndy Snowden, a first-time Day of Caring volunteer said.
The goal of Day of Caring is to provide organizations serving the community with the extra time, tools and helping hands they need to complete projects that might otherwise go unfinished because of limited resources. At the same time, volunteers have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in their communities while gaining a deeper understanding of the important work local nonprofits do to strengthen the lives of people throughout Payne County.
“I don't think there's words that I can describe how appreciative and what it means to our group,” Michelle Music, President of the Cushing Community Theater said. “They've just been incredible and we got way more help than we even thought we would get.”
In addition to bringing volunteers and nonprofits together, Day of Caring serves as the kickoff for United Way of Payne County’s annual campaign. This year, United Way has set a campaign goal of $1.25 million.
Funds raised through the annual campaign allow United Way of Payne County to provide consistent, community-based funding to more than 20 nonprofit agencies serving Payne County. This support helps local organizations continue providing vital programs and services to individuals and families throughout the community.
To learn more about United Way of Payne County or how you can support its mission, visit unitedwaypaynecounty.org.