ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Before the school bell rang Thursday morning, curious students wondered what would happen with the mountain of mulch outside.
"One student asked if we were getting horses," Central Elementary STREAM Academy Principal Rebecca Bodnar said.
By 2 p.m., the mulch was gone — transformed into a welcoming recess yard — thanks to the efforts of nearly 100 volunteers who participated in the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley's Day of Caring, now in its 32nd year.
The annual event brought together businesses, nonprofits and community volunteers to make an impact across the Lehigh Valley.
This year, 60 locations across the region benefited from the Day of Caring, including Central Elementary, Slate Belt Senior Center in Bangor, Paxinosa Elementary School in Easton and the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown.
Additionally, volunteers from the American Red Cross Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter teamed up with Allentown Fire Department to install free smoke alarms for local families during a Sound the Alarm event.
'Life-saving' efforts
In a city where older, connected properties make multi-unit fires devastatingly common, prevention is key, United Way Greater Lehigh Valley President Marci Lesko said.
After a conversation with Allentown Fire Chief Efrain Agosto, Lesko and her staff at United Way learned that something as simple as smoke detectors could change outcomes for families.
“Having people out talking about fire prevention — literally life-saving."United Way Greater Lehigh Valley President Marci Lesko
“Having people out talking about fire prevention — literally life-saving,” Lesko said.
During United Way Caring Day, Lesko visited sites where she thanked volunteers for tackling projects — tasks such as clearing trees, painting classrooms, reading to seniors, reorganizing food pantries and building beds for a new transitional shelter.
Lesko said she was grateful to see the community work together.
“The only way we’re going to continue to navigate through these polarizing times is with each other,” she said.
“What I love the most is that people are less interested in the photo op and more interested in the work. They’re there solely to get the project done.”
'Icing on the cake'
That commitment was visible Thursday from the moment volunteers, in their pastel green shirts, arrived at Central Elementary STREAM Academy.
Whether spreading mulch to beautify the recess grounds or giving high-fives and fist-pumps to students in the hallway, they maintained cheerful energy.
“You could see it right away,” said Cassandra Parilla, a first-time volunteer with City Center Group.
Eager kids watched as Parilla and her colleagues painted puppies on a mural inside the school, based on the characters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's show, "Bluey."
“The kids were so excited," Parilla said. "Even just seeing us in our shirts made them happy. Being able to bring Bluey and their favorite characters to life was the icing on the cake.
’I'd absolutely volunteer again.”
Building for the future
Some United Way Day of Caring projects carried an even greater urgency.
As winter approaches and temperatures drop, housing becomes critical for the region's homeless populations.
According to Lesko, this year, United Way raised $150,000 to build a new shelter for people transitioning from homeless encampments into stable housing.
“It’s not just about writing checks. It’s about rolling up our sleeves and doing the work ourselves. That’s the power of what we’re building here.”United Way Greater Lehigh Valley President Marci Lesko
Volunteers spent the day at the Sixth Street Shelter, constructing beds on which individuals soon will sleep.
“It’s not just about writing checks,” Lesko said. “It’s about rolling up our sleeves and doing the work ourselves. That’s the power of what we’re building here.”
The 2025 Day of Caring was one of the largest yet, with 1,500 local employees from 60 companies contributing more than 8,200 hours of service, the United Way said.
Their efforts were valued at $284,475.
Participating companies included Air Products, City Center Group, Crayola, Victaulic, PPL Corporation, United Way Women United and Just Born Quality Confections.
“This is the one day we bring everybody together — nonprofit partners, business leaders, volunteers — all with a single focus: to care,” Lesko said.
