United for a Day of Caring
Day of Caring 2026 brought 1,003 volunteers together at more than 100 project sites across Northwest Indiana. From schools and parks to nonprofit facilities and community spaces, volunteers rolled up their sleeves, worked alongside their neighbors, and helped strengthen the communities we call home.
The day began with our Kickoff Breakfast at Operating Engineers Local 150 Union Hall, bringing volunteers, sponsors, and community partners together before teams headed out to projects throughout the region.
Thank you to every volunteer, nonprofit, sponsor, and community partner who helped make this year’s Day of Caring a success. Your time, energy, and willingness to serve helped make a difference across Northwest Indiana.
Looking Ahead
We’re already looking forward to next year’s Day of Caring. The 2027 date will be announced soon.
Stay connected for updates and opportunities to join us as we continue bringing people together through service.
Thank you to our 2026 Day of Caring Sponsors:
Cleveland Cliffs
James W. & Betty Dye Foundation
The Times Media Company
Centier Bank
Indiana Beverage
Porter County Community Foundation
Local 150 - Operators
First Merchants
Enbridge
MAAC Foundation
Lerner & Rowe Gives Back
Team Toyota
Purdue Federal Credit Union
Toyota Material Handling North America
Jasper Newton Foundation
Ivy Tech Community College
First Financial Bank
Deb & Al Spajer
Hammond Machine Works
McAfee Animal Hospital
1st Source Bank
ECIER Foundation
Bank of America
Peoples Bank
Hard Rock Casino
M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.
Volunteers will participate in a variety of service projects. Opportunities may include painting, landscaping, tutoring, facility improvements, community cleanups, and other projects that support local nonprofits and community organizations.
No matter the task, every project helps create a stronger, more vibrant Northwest Indiana.
Visit our Volunteer Page to find Day of Caring Projects throughout Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, and Starke Counties.
Day of Caring brings together teams of volunteers who are eager to make a meaningful impact in our community through hands-on service projects. Hosting a project is a great opportunity to receive support for tasks that may otherwise be difficult to complete due to limited staff, time, or resources.
Examples of projects include:
- Landscaping and outdoor beautification
- Painting and maintenance projects
- Organizing supplies or storage areas
- Facility clean-up
- Special event preparation
- Other volunteer-friendly projects that benefit your organization
If your agency has a project that could benefit from a team of dedicated volunteers, we'd love to hear from you. You can register your agency and projects through Volunteer Connect!
Questions? Reach out to United Way Northwest Indiana at volunteer@unitedwaynwi.org.