Agencies that reach out to the poor often need a lot of work and help themselves. The Day of Caring offers just that, clean up, paint, whatever is needed.
Today nearly 5-thousand people showed up to volunteer. Channel 8's Kim Jackson explains what it means to the givers and receivers.
There were lots of hands at work, not just volunteerism, but it was all about giving people exactly what they need.
Initially, students were concerned about picking out the good fruit.
"Yeah, we don't want to give out moldy peaches," said Michael Loeffler, who is assistant principal at Cascia Hall.
He and his students were sorting and even sampling.
"The good ones," admitted a student named Jamie.
They were volunteering at Morton Health Center, giving out bags of produce to patients.
"It means a lot because we are caring for the community and helping out with people less fortunate," said Jamie.
A day out of class meant a day of learning. And let's just do the math. On this official Day of Caring.
Volunteers were expected to do 30,000 hours of work---if you were paying minimum wage. that would be about 217,500-dollars.
"There is no way I could bag up all of this produce so these kids are being really helpful, it wouldn't happen without them there is no way," said Stacy Walker, of Morton Health Center.
Many of their patients are on special diets, and fruits and veggies can be expensive.
This field trip is part of the students' school requirements to volunteer.
"It's a treat to be out of the classroom for the grownups too. And it's good to see that we are doing something real, food that is going to people that are hungry. They can see the difference," said assistant Principal Michael Loeffler.
They're doing something perhaps they've never done before. Maybe touching lives they never imagined.
In addition to today's effort, the Tulsa United Way hopes to raise nearly 25 million dollars this fundraising season.
