Freshman Ashley Acampora paints a room at Siskin Children’s Institute as part of United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Day of Caring. Photo by Angela Foster.
After eating breakfast, changing into their green volunteer shirts and watching a performance by the Sugar Mocs, members of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga community loaded into buses to go out into the Chattanooga community.
This was all part of United Way of Greater Chattanooga’s Day of Caring on Friday, Sept. 19, which brought volunteers to locations in Chattanooga to provide support for local nonprofits, schools and community organizations through service projects.
“Day of Caring is a day where the community comes together to support our local nonprofits, and UTC is a part of it because we really want to encourage our students to also be a part of this community,” said Bryant Fairley, UTC’s director of engagement. “Many of our students are not from Chattanooga. This is a great way for them to see the organizations that support this community and really be a part of contributing to it.”
This year, UTC volunteers headed to four sites: Siskin Children’s Institute, the J.A. Henry YMCA, CHATT Foundation and Warner Park.
Before the buses departed, Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot thanked participants for dedicating their time and energy.
“You all are going to be a few of nearly a thousand people across the city who are dedicating today to serve our community, and that number alone is powerful,” she said. “What’s even more powerful is the spirit behind it because we aren’t here out of obligation. We are here out of compassion and out of a belief that our time and our presence and our hands can make a difference.”
Lightfoot reminded the crowd that their efforts could lead to change in areas they may never see.
“Even if you never see the ripple, trust that it is there,” she said. “Because today someone’s burden will be lighter, someone’s hope will be brighter and someone’s tomorrow will be different because you showed up.”
Director of Engagement Bryant Fairley volunteers at Siskin Children’s Institute.
Among the group were several first-year UTC students excited to show up for their new community.
Ashley Acampora, a freshman interior architecture major from Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, said her service-focused class gave her the opportunity to join.
“I like being able to help in ways that I can,” Acampora said. “Specifically with animals, but if I can help people too, it’s still amazing.”
Alex Davis, a freshman electrical engineering major from Memphis, said he learned about the event through his professor, Dr. Raga Ahmed.
“I just wanted to do something around the community just to help around,” Davis said.
Graduate students also joined the volunteer efforts—including Aastha Chakraborty and Justise Griggs, both second-year students in UTC’s Master of Industrial-Organizational Psychology program.
Chakraborty, originally from India, first participated in Day of Caring last year through her graduate assistantship.
“I enjoyed myself a lot,” she said. “We were making cards for older people and that was such a heartwarming thing to do. I was like, ‘I can definitely take time out of my schedule to do things like this, whatever opportunity I get.’
“It’s perfect because UTC is taking care of it. You don’t really have to coordinate anything. You just have to show up.”
Griggs, who is from Birmingham, Alabama, said she was excited to participate in Day of Caring for the first time.
“I’m always down to volunteer and help out wherever I can,” she said. “It seemed like something nice to do.”
Lightfoot explained to students, faculty and staff that the day’s impact carries more meaning than they may realize.
“As you go out today into my community—I was born and raised here—and now your community, I want you to carry this with you,” Lightfoot said. “What you do matters. What you give matters. Who you are matters.”
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