Lindsay France/University Photography

Karen Brown, director of campus life marketing and communications, helps sort items for the Day of Caring food drive, Sept. 30.

About 100 United Way members, organizers and volunteers gathered at Stewart Park Sept. 30 for the 12th annual Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring and to kick off the county’s United Way campaign.

More than 375 boxes – more than 14,000 pounds – of nonperishable food, personal care items, and pet and school supplies were lined two-deep on the pavilion picnic tables, donated to the United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) for distribution to local food pantries and community organizations.

James Brown, president of the UWTC, welcomed supporters and thanked them for their participation in the day’s activities as well as their contributions to the United Way. He announced four grant opportunities, totaling $88,000, that are available for local nonprofit organizations: the Hunger and Food Security Fund; T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund; Youth and Philanthropy Program; and the Ithaca College Student United Way.

He also thanked Cornell University for including UWTC in its upcoming sesquicentennial and homecoming festivities: the Oct. 16 A Cappella United concert in Bailey Hall and the Oct. 18 5K run and Family Fun Zone at the Cornell Plantations. Proceeds from those events will benefit the UWTC.

Campus campaign office

Cornell has designated a United Way campus campaign information office on the first floor of Day Hall, with a hallway information center devoted to the campaign and the local agencies that benefit from this annual effort. Students, staff and faculty are welcome to drop by 110 Day Hall to learn more about Cornell’s United Way Campaign.

“This beautiful day was perfect for celebrating renewal – both through Cornell’s demonstration of commitment to our community through the United Way and through the announcement at noon of a new president to lead the university into the next 150 years,” said Anne Kenney, the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian and Cornell United Way Campaign chair, after the event.

Kenney also stressed the importance of Cornell volunteer ambassadors and student campaign leaders in Cornell’s United Way campaigns. “They truly show we are a caring community,” she said.

Annually, Cornell staff, faculty and students contribute nearly 40 percent of the county’s campaign goal with their gifts to the United Way. Because local businesses and corporations, including Cornell, support UWTC’s administrative and operating expenses, unrestricted gifts by individuals to the UWTC or designated to UWTC member agencies go directly to support education, income and health programs.

“The United Way supports more than 40 local member agencies. Every dollar you give goes directly to the program you want to support and could very likely help someone you know. Any of us – yourself, or someone in your neighborhood, office space or workplace – could need to tap into the resources and services made possible through the United Way,” Kenney said.

This year’s UWTC Community Campaign goal is $2,150,000. Of that, Cornell’s goal is $815,000.