United Way 'Day of Caring' underway through March 19

United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County has transitioned its 4th Annual “Day of Caring” (DOC) into a community donation drive, taking place now through Friday, March 19, the group announced March 9.

The United Way DOC normally brings together over 200 community members from numerous local businesses to participate in a community wide volunteer day. The shift in this year’s DOC to a community donation drive was to ensure the safety of all participants due to COVID-19 restrictions. Items collected will benefit various programming needs of United Way’s 20 local nonprofit partner agencies (benefitting agencies can be found at: www.uwbmt.org/partners).

Donation items include: student scissors, paper plates, paper towels, blankets, disposable gloves, individual kids snacks, disinfecting wipes, alcohol prep pads, bath towel sets, white pillow cases, disinfecting spray, pencils, canned food, toilet paper, socks (men and women), markers, map pencils, bags of dry dog food, liquid laundry detergent, sit-on bean bags for kids, and masks (children and adult).

More than 35 local businesses and organizations are participating in the 2021 United Way DOC virtual donation drive as collections sites and/or sponsors. Sponsoring businesses are: ExxonMobil Beaumont (Lead Sponsor), Del Papa Distributing, Natgasoline, OCI Beaumont, BASF Beaumont, Common Cents Credit Union, Entergy Texas, Goodyear Chemical, Hancock Whitney, Mobiloil Credit Union, American Valve & Hydrant, G&G Enterprises Construction Corp, Gulf Coast: A CRH Company, H.B. Neild & Sons, Inc., April Tolbert Insurance Agency, Better Business Bureau Serving Southeast Texas, Bill Clark Pest Control, DuGood Federal Credit Union and Waffle House.

Items may be dropped off at the United Way office at 700 North St., Suite H, in Beaumont, during the week of March 15-19. United Way office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are encouraged for drop-offs.

Once the donation drive is complete, the United Way DOC will culminate in a drive-thru distribution at the end of March. This year’s DOC initiative is targeted to help 500 local families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent winter storm, while emphasizing

United Way’s three community impact areas are health, education and financial stability. Families in need will receive a food box, children’s books, a prescription savings card and more.