The annual United Way Day of Caring sees community volunteers take on tasks such as painting, gardening, cleaning, and minor renovations, all aimed at supporting regional organizations and improving the lives of local residents.

This year’s Kingston event brought together over 400 volunteers from 31 workplaces, who supported over 41 local agencies throughout the day. Volunteers focused their efforts on issues of critical importance for the Kingston region, including housing improvements for disadvantaged populations, tackling food insecurity through meal preparation at local food banks and community kitchens, and enhancing educational spaces.

Queen’s staff from across the university, including teams from the Principal’s Office, Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion), Vice-Principal (Research), and Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) offices, and Smith School of Business, lent a hand to various projects. For example, Queen’s volunteers contributed to the creation of greener, more sustainable urban areas within the city through gardening and landscaping projects, including the Hospice Garden in Kingston’s City Park, a space dedicated to patients and their families.

Last year, Queen’s staff, faculty, and retirees donated a record-setting $490,166 to United Way KFL&A to help address local challenges.

Queen’s volunteers contributed to the creation of greener, more sustainable urban areas within the city through gardening and landscaping projects.

"Our participation in the United Way Day of Caring aligns with Queen’s commitment to sustainable development and community engagement," says Patrick Deane, Queen's Principal and Vice-Chancellor and Sector Co-Chair: Education of the United Way KFL&A Cabinet. "The dedication and hard work of our volunteers demonstrate our university’s role in driving positive change and supporting the wellbeing of our local community."

Participating in the United Way Day of Caring is part of Queen’s fundraising initiative for the charity. The university’s annual campaign has become the largest workplace and retiree campaign within the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington region. Last year, Queen’s staff, faculty, and retirees surpassed the institutional goal and donated a record-setting $490,166 to help address local challenges. For members of the Queen’s community looking to get involved with the 2024-2025 campaign, recruitment of Department Champions is now underway. Those interested should contact James Ligthart, Chair of the Queen's United Way Workplace Campaign, at james.ligthart@queensu.ca

To learn more about Queen’s long-standing support for United Way KFL&A, visit Queen’s United Way Campaign website.