In one day, at 30 nonprofit agencies, 350 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) employees gave back to the community during United Way of the Midlands (UWM) Day of Caring.

UWM Day of Caring is an annual volunteer service event pairing corporate teams and individuals with nonprofits in need of assistance. From cleaning to painting to reading to children and more, volunteers tackle a variety of tasks in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties.

Participating in Day of Caring is an annual tradition for many BCBSNE employees, including Sanjeev Kafle, who has volunteered for the event four times. This year, Kafle and his team volunteered at Benson Plant Rescue.

“We removed weeds, planted some plants and removed trees,” Kafle said. “It always makes me feel good to volunteer for a cause, and this year was no different.”

Day of Caring provided Kafle and his team with a chance to bond with each other and their community, he said.

“Helping each other enhances our relationships and helps to maintain peace and harmony within the community,” Kafle said. “It also provides a great sense of satisfaction.”

BCBSNE employee Michelle Mitchell and her team volunteered with seniors in the Sazzy Senior program at Catholic Charities’ St. Martin de Porres Center.

“We played bingo, helped with a scavenger hunt and had lunch with the seniors,” Mitchell said. “Those seniors kept us on our toes.”

Like Kafle, Mitchell also has previous Day of Caring experience. She said she enjoyed working directly with the seniors at the nonprofit this year.

“People are the most important resource for the community,” Mitchell said. “Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones, and when we do, we find connections with others that we may have never found if not for opportunities like Day of Caring.”

BCBSNE employee Kathy Nellor, who served as the company’s Day of Caring coordinator, said BCBSNE is proud to foster a culture that supports giving back.

“It’s important we all strive to positively impact the people in our communities by doing what we can to take care of each other while utilizing our strengths and talents,” Nellor said.

For more articles like this one, visit the community engagement tab.