Hendersonville – On August 1st, over 200 local volunteers rolled up their sleeves to enhance the learning environment for students in Henderson County. This year’s United Way Day of Action saw community members come together to tackle outdoor projects at Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS), just in time for the new academic year.
A Community Effort
The annual Day of Action has become a beloved tradition in Hendersonville, where volunteers dedicate their time and energy to beautifying school campuses. This year, the focus was on spreading mulch and managing landscape improvements, transforming the outdoor spaces into welcoming areas for students and teachers alike.
Mark Garrett, Superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools, expressed his gratitude for the community’s involvement. “We are extremely grateful to our community partners and Day of Action participants for investing in Henderson County Public Schools,” he said. “As the saying goes, many hands make for light work, and this yearly event never ceases to amaze us in terms of the visual impact the projects have on our campuses in just a few short hours. We strive to put our best foot forward at all of our schools, especially as we welcome students and families. Day of Action helps us get in tip-top shape for the new year.”
Volunteers Unite for a Common Cause
The volunteers included families, individuals, and teams from local businesses who share a commitment to supporting their schools. Together, they contributed an impressive 600 hours of service, demonstrating the power of community engagement.
“It is inspiring to see volunteers and organizations unite to support our children and schools throughout Henderson County,” said Kat Carlton, United Way’s Community Development Director. “We have a strong community who shows up for each other in so many ways, and when it comes to being there for our schools and our youth, we show up by the hundreds. Thank you to everyone who helped to make Day of Action such a great success!”
Among the participating companies was Stuller Power Solutions, whose employees took time away from their regular business schedules to volunteer. “Stuller Power Solutions is all about advocacy; that’s our company culture, and we appreciate and enjoy helping,” said Cheryl Stuller. Similarly, staff members from Hendersonville Mills River Family Dental expressed their enthusiasm: “We love being active in the community. Any time we get the opportunity to volunteer and show support for our schools, we’re on it!”
Gratitude from School Leaders
As the day came to a close, Amy Cleveland, Principal at Dana Elementary, shared her heartfelt appreciation for the volunteers’ efforts. “We could not be more thankful for our community partners who put this day together and our volunteers who came to help us make things look beautiful,” she said.
The success of Day of Action was made possible through generous support from local business sponsors including AdventHealth, Hendersonville/Mills River Family Dental, Park National Bank, PragerMetis Advisors and Accountants, Stuller Power Solutions, Reid & Reid Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, and WNC Bridge Foundation.
About United Way of Henderson County
United Way fights for the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of every person in Henderson County. If you would like more information on United Way, contact United Way of Henderson County at PO Box 487, Hendersonville, NC 28793, 828-692-1636, or visit online at liveunitedhc.org. You can also find UWHC on Facebook.
The Day of Action not only beautifies school campuses but also strengthens community bonds, proving that when people come together with a shared purpose, they can create lasting change.