United Way hosts second annual Grant County Day Of Action

United Way of Grant County hosted its second annual Grant County Day of Action on Thursday throughout the surrounding areas of downtown Marion.

Different companies and teams signed up with United Way to volunteer and lend their services to help with different service and clean-up projects in Grant County.

United Way Marketing & Communications Director Evan Gilmore helped organize the event alongside several committees that partnered with United Way.

“We have over 20 teams made up of employers and their staff, along with many students from Marion Junior High helping today,” Gilmore said. “They now have the opportunity to help out with places like the humane society, over at the Boys & Girls Club, maybe it’s cleaning up a neighborhood or a community garden.”

The event started with a volunteer lunch before the teams were assigned and dispersed throughout the community. 

State Representative of District 31 Lori Goss-Reaves, who volunteered at the event, said the idea originated from Leanna Smith, the current Director of United Way.

“I remember her talking about this idea she had about uniting people in Grant County and allowing them to come together, serve together, and help out businesses,” Goss-Reaves said. “I just believe we have great people that live, work, and invest in Grant County and this is a way to show that.”

Breana Price, an employee of Heartland Scholar House, said the main goal was to help the community and make Sept. 19 the day United Way does it each year.

“When you see people do good things out in the community, their entire mood changes, their entire outlook changes,” Price said. “The more we repeatedly show that we are a positive community of givers and carers, it will change the perception.”

The event ended with a dinner and celebration at Gas City Park with different vendors, food trucks, and music groups, such as the Jesse Brown Duo and the Barstool Bandits.