Every year we look forward to kicking off our Annual United Way of Greater Lima Campaign with a day of giving back. Allen County is a giving community as evidenced by the hundreds of volunteers who turn out each year to help our non-profit community partners get things done that aren't possible within the non-profit budget and normal staffing levels. When we all come together, so much good can be accomplished! Thank you, everyone, who committed to Day of Caring! You are United Way Heroes!
Friday, September 6th, 2024, marked the United Way of Greater Lima's 8th annual Day of Caring. This year we gathered at The Ohio State University, Lima Campus to kick off the 2024 Campaign. In the past we have had an Awards Banquet in the spring to recognize and celebrate those who have gone above and beyond for the previous campaign. With the campaigns wrapping up later and later each year we decided to include the Awards Ceremony with the campaign kick-off breakfast. We started the morning with thanking those that helped make the 2023 Campaign a success and presented a few awards.
After the awards ceremony we were all inspired by United Way President and CEO, Erin Hardesty as she talked about the upcoming campaign and the theme. We took a moment to view the new campaign video together before dispersing out into the community.
This year over 300 volunteers and over 30 projects were completed at various non-profit organizations in Allen County.
Thank you so much to all who volunteered their time and hard work to help the non-profit agencies with their projects.
.png)
Each year we receive different requests for projects. Some projects are the same year after year and the agency has created an event around Day of Caring such as the West Ohio Food bank who offers a No Registration Required food distribution. This year, with the help of the volunteers, over 900 families were served at West Ohio Food bank totaling more than 100,000 pounds of food distributed. In addition over 700 senior boxes and 150 kids bags were packed by their volunteers.
Others, such as Salvation Army, have a Clothing Give-A-Way each year as their project they need volunteers for. This year they were able to serve 84 households representing 248 people with clothing. Each family served received at least two bags of clothing. They also had 2 clients that received furniture as well.
This year we had several agencies submit landscaping and painting projects. For many of these the weather did not cooperate and the volunteers got a little wet or their original project changed. Thank you so much for being flexible and in great spirits despite the weather.
Thank you so much to all who volunteered. We appreciate you all so much.
Together we are changing lives.
Despite the rain several volunteers were still able to complete landscaping projects for area agencies.
Thank you Burton's Ridge, Delphos St. Johns, HCF Management, K&M Tire, Mercy Health, Perry proTECH, and Rudolph for working through the weather and still completing the landscaping projects.
Although some of the outdoor painting projects were rained out, there were still several other painting projects that were able to be completed.
Thank you Big Brothers Big Sisters, First National Bank, Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce, Lima Memorial Health Systems, Mercy Health, Nutrien, Perry proTECH, Trisco, West Ohio Food Bank, and Youth for Christ.
The landscaping crews weren't the only ones who ended up getting a little wet with the rain. There were also a couple of other outdoor projects that were able to be completed despite the poor weather.
Thank you DANA for helping build a beautiful log cabin and leveling a hill with the help of Lima Bobcat and their equipment. Also, thank you to TopMark Federal Credit Union, for your help at the Free Clothing Give-a-way event!
Several organizations asked for help with cleaning or organizing different areas at their agency and that is just what these volunteers were able to complete for them.
Thank you Crime Victim Services, Memorial Health, Mercy Health, NGP, and Tricso for all of your hard work.
Day of Caring is a day where we all come together and improve the lives of others in some way. That is just what these volunteers did as they offered their time to help brighten the lives of those around them.
Thank you Allen County Guardianship Services Board and Delphos St. John's Junior Optimists.
Friday, September 8th, 2023, marked the United Way of Greater Lima’s 7th annual Day of Caring. This year we all gathered out at The Ohio State University, Lima Campus to kick off the 2023 United Way of Greater Lima Campaign. We had a special "appearance" from none other than Steven Tyler (only this time in a cape), Captain America, and Spiderman. We were all inspired by our campaign co-chairs Ronda and Jason as well as United Way President and CEO Erin Hardesty. After rallying and getting pumped up for an amazing campaign year over 300 volunteers took to the community to help several Partner Agencies and local Non-Profits. A few of the agencies that we were able to help include Activate Allen County, Andrew's House of Hope, The ARC of Allen County, Crime Victim Services, Soldiers of Honor, The Salvation Army, West Ohio Food Bank and many more. We are United Way HEROES.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers that came out to help the community.
You are United Way HEROES!
Ronda Lehman, Erin Hardesty, and Jason May
Day of Caring Breakfast
Thank you PERRY proTECH, P.A.S.S., & All Service Glass for all your hard work at Crime Victim Services!
Thank you Delphos St. John's Mission Society for volunteering at Allen County Council on Aging and Andrew's House of Hope !
Thank you Mercy Health - St. Rita's & Nutrien for all your hard work at The ARC of Allen County!
Thank you Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce & NGP Printing for all your hard work at Activate Allen County's S. Jackson St. Garden!
Thank you Bluffton Weekday Christian Education and Innovative Opportunities for assisting The Salvation Army at their Clothing Give-a-way during their monthly garage sale!
Thank you HCF Management & PERRY proTECH for all the hard work at Soldiers of Honor!
Thank you Superior Credit Union, Area Agency on Aging 3 Retirees, Schrader Realty, E.S. Evans, American Electric Power, & Allen County Board of DD for all your hard work cleaning up and distributing food at West Ohio Food Bank!
September 9th, 2022 was a great day for the Greater Lima area! Three hundred plus volunteers joined us at The Ohio State University at Lima for the kick-off of the 2022 United Way of Greater Lima Campaign. We had special "appearances" from none other than the Beatles, Steven Tyler Smith and "half-pint"! (Check out the photos below!) Our theme this year is IMAGINE...IF WE ALL CAME TOGETHER. The rest of that day, we saw what can happen if we all come together! Those 300 plus volunteers spread themselves out in the greater Lima area to work hard and do good!
We kicked off our 2021 Campaign with a sports themed event this year. We had 350 volunteers come together to help join us in making an impact in the area. Volunteers served agencies all over the county including the YWCA, West Ohio Food Bank, The ARC of Allen County, and much more! A huge thank you to all of our volunteers that came this year to be All-In Team United to help create positive changes in our community.
_1.png)