The United Way of Tompkins County will celebrate its 20th annual Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring and kick off its 2016-17 Community Campaign Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Stewart Park’s large pavilion. Members of the Cornell and local communities are invited to a program at noon. For more information, visit the website.

The Day of Caring includes a communitywide nonperishable food, personal care items and school supplies drive to benefit local residents. Donations can be dropped off in advance of the Day of Caring at boxes around campus, currently being set up by participating departments, and at the United Way of Tompkins County, 313 N. Aurora St., Ithaca. On the Day of Caring these items are sorted and distributed to schools, pantries and nonprofits. All donations stay in Tompkins County.

On campus,the 2016-17 Cornell United Way Campaign, led by campaign chair Andy Noel, the Meakem*Smith Director of Athletics and Physical Education, and co-chair Kathy Zoner, chief of police, will kick off Sept. 16 at noon in the Willard Straight Memorial Room. Speakers will include Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick ’09 and Tompkins County United Way President James Brown. Prizes will be raffled, including, for example, an iPad, a night at the Cornell Club in New York City and lunch with Myrick.