September 17, 2025 – The Annual United Way Laurence E. Richardson Day of Caring happens every September when teams of people volunteer to complete special projects at regional nonprofits, schools, and faith-based organizations. The first Day of Caring took place in 1992 and began with only 50 volunteers. The United Way of Greater Charlottesville services the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, which includes the City of Charlottesville and Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson, plus the County of Orange. In their role as Ready Region Blue Ridge lead, they serve an additional 14 cities and counties in the Shenandoah Valley as far west as the City of Staunton and Augusta County and as far north as the City of Winchester and Frederick County. This year’s impact is estimated to include over 115 projects, over 2,100 volunteers, over 7,500 hours of service, and more than a $365,000 value back to the community.
This year, the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology participated at Greenleaf Park with the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards. The non-profit organization, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards (CATS), grew out of the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) tree steward training classes of 2003 and 2004. VCE agent, Peter Warren, administered these two classes, with Adam Downing, VCE Forestry Agent. Their mission is to support rural and urban forests and promote knowledge and understanding of the value of trees for present and future generations.
The CDT volunteers didn’t let the misty rain stop them in joining more than 15 others to tackle the huge mulch pile at Greenleaf Park. We all worked together to fill buckets and wheel barrels and carted them all around the park to mulch around the many young trees. The project hosts educated the volunteers on the trees and shrubs in the park and also the best techniques on how to mulch a tree before the fall and winter seasons. There is the “3x3x3” mulching rule of thumb, meaning the mulch around a tree should be 3 inches deep, 3 feet wide creating a 3-foot radius around the trunk, and leave a 3-inch gap between the mulch and the base of the trunk.
The CDT always has a blast on the Day of Caring, and we can’t wait to sign up again next year!
By: Madison Maloney (mgm3t@virginia.edu)