Day of Action is rooted in United Way’s mission to improve lives in the areas of health, youth opportunity, and financial security. The event highlights the power of collective service—neighbors helping neighbors, organizations supporting one another, and volunteers directly contributing to a stronger, healthier community. 

Day of Action officially kicks-off the organizations campaign fundraising season: helping rally our community to raise over $450,000 annually to our local United Way and 25+ local programs through Community Impact Grants.
 

Local 105(c)3 nonprofits, schools, and government agencies are invited to submit project proposals each year. United Way of Henry County and Martinsville reviews requests, coordinates volunteer assignments, and ensures each project has the support it needs. Agencies are asked for projects to begin around 10:30 a.m. to allot time for volunteers to travel to their project site after the kickoff breakfast.

The project submission deadline is usually set several weeks before the event to ensure adequate volunteer coverage. 

All volunteers must be registered on www.EngageHCM.org to participate in Day of Action. All registered volunteers are invited to the annual campaign kick-off ceremony / breakfast and will receive a Free T-shirt to wear during the event.

Community members can register individually or as a group. Often times, local businesses will encourage their employees to participate in teams to help maximize local impact. Volunteers choose from a list of available projects—ranging from outdoor beautification to hands on service to administrative support—and commit a few hours to making a tangible difference.

Please Note: Not all volunteer opportunities on EngageHCM.org are Day of Action opportunities. Follow the link below to see current Day of Action Project Listings

Day of Action is more than a volunteer event—it’s a celebration of community spirit. In recent years:
 

• Over 100 volunteers have participated annually.
• More than 450 collective service hours have been completed across Henry County and Martinsville during this single-day event.
• The event has supported United Way of Henry County and Martinsville’s broader campaign goals, including raising over 30% of the annual campaign goal by kickoff day.
   

These efforts directly strengthen local programs, improve community spaces, and support families across Martinsville and Henry County.