A day filled with volunteering is what Whirlpool Corporation manufacturing employees in Cleveland, Tennessee view as the perfect day. One of those days is the United Way of the Ocoee Region’s annual “Day of Action,” an event that brings community members and businesses together to help improve their local communities. During this “Day of Action,” local companies and organizations gather teams to volunteer and sponsor the event. Over the last 50 years, Whirlpool Corporation’s manufacturing team in Cleveland has become the event’s largest sponsor, bringing over 30 volunteers.
Whirlpool Corp. Cleveland Operations communicator Brandi King is leading the event and happy to be once again working alongside United Way.
“I think it’s important that Whirlpool values United Way and the collaboration between the two is a great thing,” says King.
Volunteers are split into teams and sent off to a specific location to work for the day. Some are sent to local parks, schools, or playgrounds, where they do anything from painting to mowing lawns. This year, the two sites they are working on are the local Boys and Girls Club and an elementary school near Cleveland, Tennessee. The team will be trimming hedges, mulching, painting, and doing some general cleaning to both sites.
Whirlpool Corporation being the largest employer in Bradley County, Tennessee, makes this day feel more special, as they are giving back to a community they are close with.
“We have dozens of employee volunteers who raise their hand to go out into the community and support our local United Way through our day of action,” King says.
For Whirlpool Corp.’s nine manufacturing plants throughout the U.S, getting together after long hours at work and giving back to the community is often something they look forward to. There are nearly 1,800 Whirlpool Corp. plant employees in Cleveland, Tennessee, and events like these are a special way to bring them together.
“I see people in passing every day at work, but to share a few hours giving back to the community is so special because I get to know them better. It’s really remarkable,” says King.
During this day, United Way not only celebrates giving back to the community but also their volunteers. After spending the morning volunteering, United Way and all of the volunteers eat lunch together while giveaways and prizes are handed out.
King says, “It’s a beautiful thing to see our plant workers who work so hard each and every day give their free time to go out in the community and support the United Way. You always leave the event feeling like it was so worthwhile, and you look forward to it next year.”