Day of Caring, held during National Volunteer Week in April, is a community-wide event benefiting community partners in Crawford, Franklin, LeFlore, Logan, Sebastian, and Sequoyah counties. Each year, Day of Caring unites generous, community-focused people with the mission of creating real, lasting change in the lives of children, families, and seniors right where we live.

On Day of Caring (April 17, 2025), volunteer teams from local companies and businesses, families, and individuals work together to complete projects and conduct special programs for United Way’s community partners, who often lack the necessary resources and staffing to tackle the projects. These projects range from reading to children, painting a room, and engaging in outdoor activities such as landscaping or washing windows.

Each year, 800- 100 individuals volunteer for this event. Participating in Day of Caring allows building stronger relationships among employees, family members, friends, and other community members while introducing United Way’s impact and importance in the six-county area.

Sponsorship Level – $750.00 

Many children look forward to arriving on the first day of school with new notebooks, backpacks, and pencil boxes, but it’s a different story for children whose families can’t afford these items. For Fill the Bus ( July 25-26), United Way of Fort Smith Area asks individuals to help them fill a bus full of supplies to be donated to at-risk children in its six-county area.

Not only do the donated supplies help children with their studies, but having a new backpack or notebook can help raise a child’s self-esteem. Feeling good about themselves and having the tools to complete their school work helps children get off on the right foot as they start a new school year. More than 500 volunteers from local businesses and organizations participate each year.

Sponsorship Level – $750.00

United Way of Fort Smith Area’s annual Power of the Purse, held in October, is a luncheon and silent auction. Each year, over 200 women enjoy a luncheon while bidding on purses provided by gracious donors.

The proceeds from this event benefit United Way’s early childhood literacy initiative. Through a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, United Way mails more than 6,000 children a quality, age-appropriate book a month from birth to their fifth birthday at no cost to the parent. It costs United Way $31 a year per child. This event is our largest fundraiser for this program.

Table sponsorships include:

Event sponsor $1,000 seating for 10

Corporate Table $500 seating for 8