United Way Day of Action

Friday, September 12, 2025

Community Projects

More than a quarter of Delaware County households live one crisis away from falling into poverty. These working families (or ALICE – Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) face daily obstacles hindering their health, education, and financial stability.

2025 is the United Way's 100th anniversary. Your participation in one of the following activities will support their century-long commitment to improving the lives and futures of ALICE families across our community.

Projects happening before or after September 12

Camp Adventure Clean UpIndiana Academy students only

Camp Adventure is a program of Muncie Community Schools that brings children outside to learn about science and literacy. Ball State University partners with Camp Adventure to bring learning and fun to children at this amazing outdoor learning facility. Volunteers will be helping to clean up the facility from summer camps and preparing for the school year. Tasks include cleaning gutters, trails, and rope courses, and raking leaves.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring close-toe shoes, comfortable clothing, and sunglasses. Bug spray, sunscreen, gloves, bottled water, and all tools necessary for the job will be provided. If volunteers have small hands and would like to bring their own gloves, that would be encouraged.

Time commitment: Tuesday, September 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, closed-toe shoes/comfortable clothing
What to bring: Sunglasses
Transportation: Transportation on your own: Camp Adventure, 4881 S CR 325 W, Muncie

Hygiene Product Drive

Bring unused personal hygiene products (e.g. travel shampoos, soap, body wash, toothpaste) to share with local shelters and schools. Collection sites will be available August 15 – September 9 at the following locations:

Atrium food court (entrance near bookstore)
Administration Building (basement)
Alumni Center
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
Robert Bell Building (lobby)
Pittenger Student Center, north entrance

Showalter Building (Facilities Planning and Management Office)
Teachers College (main entrance near the elevators)
West Quad Building (Room 203)

List of Items needed
Please provide new, not used items. Bold = most needed

Blankets
Pillows
Toiletries
Toothpaste/toothbrushes
Soap
Razors

Underwear/undergarments
Clean socks
Water bottle
Gift certificate to fast food
Hand wipes
Pack of Kleenex

Maxi pads
Nail clippers
Band aids
Chap stick
Comb or small brush
Mints, cough drops or gum

Used Book Drive

Donate gently used books for all ages to help stock more than 35 Little Free Libraries in Delaware County. Collection boxes will be available August 16 – September 3 at the following locations:

Atrium food court (entrance near bookstore)
Administration Building (basement)
Alumni Center
E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
Robert Bell Building (lobby)
Pittenger Student Center, north entrance

Showalter Building (Facilities Planning and Management office)
Teachers College (main entrance near the elevators)
West Quad Building (Room 203)

Hygiene Kit Assembly and Inspirational CardsThird Shift only

Put together personal hygiene kits to be distributed by local shelters and schools, and make inspirational bookmarks for books that will go into Muncie’s Little Free Libraries.

Time commitment: Thursday, September 11 from 11:30 p.m. – 1:30 a.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
Project will take place in the Atrium dining area

On-Campus Projects on September 12

Literacy Kit

Assemble 200 literacy kits – including a free children’s book, craft ideas and supplies, and other resources – to help kick-start reading and learning at home for families.

Time Commitment: 1 hour between Noon – 2 p.m.
What to Wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
Project will take place at Emens

Snack Attack

Assemble over 1,000 snack packs for local elementary schools to distribute to kids who rely on school meals and snacks for basic nutrition.

Time commitment: One hour between 9-11 a.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
Project will take place at Emens

Soup Kitchen Lunches

As part of our commitment to Beneficence, Miller College of Business will be sponsoring a United Way Day of Action event to address food insecurity in our local community. Decorate a sack to inspire the recipient. The sacks will be used to bag the lunches, which will be prepared by students, faculty, and staff in Allègre.

Because of your generosity, our college has the opportunity to make a positive impact on addressing food insecurity and lifting up those in need.

Time commitment: stop by between 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
WB Lounge areas

United Way Campaign Mailer Assembly

Help put together informational packets for retirees to provide the opportunity of participating in the 2025 Ball State United Way Campaign. This is a great project if you are short on time during the Day of Action, but still want to do some very simple, yet extremely helpful, envelope stuffing during your lunch break.

Time commitment: Minimum 30 mins – Maximum 2 hours, between 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt
Project will take place in the Forum Room of the Student Center

Warmth for Winter

Knot fleece blankets for children/teens. Items will be donated to local shelters. No experience necessary.

Time commitment: One hour. 10 a.m.- 11 a.m or 1 p.m - 2 p.m
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
Project will take place at Emens

Off-Campus Projects on September 12

BY5 Collaboration Project

Join a “pop-up” reader team and read to children at a local daycare. Volunteers will be paired up and assigned to a daycare; each volunteer will read one or two books (provided) and donate them to the daycare. Training is provided.

Time commitment: Half-hour training and resource pick up at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 12
- Lucina Hall, 220
Daycare reading at approximately 10-10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 12
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
Transportation will be on your own

Cardinal Greenway

The Cardinal Greenway provides more than 60 miles of paved trail for healthy outdoor activity. Tasks will include various activities such as, trash pickup, cleaning, painting benches, etc. at one of numerous sites along the greenway.

Time commitment: Half day, 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, comfortable shoes/pants
What to bring: Water, sunscreen, and work gloves
Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to the Cardinal Greenway Depot, 700 E. Wysor Street, Muncie (possibly other entry sites along the Greenway)

Habitat for Humanity

By volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, you can be a part of building homes, communities and hope. Join us in making a difference one Muncie home at a time!

Time commitment: Full day, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. For safety reasons, all volunteers must stay for the full shift. Partial shifts are not allowed.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt
Lunch: Provided for all volunteers
Transportation: On your own, exact site address will be given prior to the event.

Little Free Librarian

We need Little Free Librarians to gather a box of donated books and then clean and stock one or two Little Free Libraries/Book Nooks. Locations will be assigned to you.

Time commitment: Minimum 30 mins – Maximum 2 hours, between 11:30am and 1:30pm
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt
Project will start at the Oakwood Building, and then you will be given directions to your Little Free Library/Book Nook(s)

Muncie Mission

Muncie Mission provides compassionate relief leading to life transformation to men, women, and families in need through shelter, food, and resource assistance, addiction recovery, and medical treatment. Tasks may include landscaping, painting, sorting and organizing food and clothing donations, and cleaning projects.

Time commitment: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. with a lunch break (be our guest for lunch, the food is great)
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt and comfortable pants or shorts and close-toed shoes
What to bring: Water, sunscreen, work gloves
Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their transportation to Muncie Mission, 1725 S. Liberty St., Muncie, IN 47302

Note: This in an all-day project. Please select that you would like to work on a project that starts in the morning when registering.

Neighborhood Clean-up

The Anthony-Northside neighborhood lies just north of Ball State’s campus and houses nearly 5000 people, many students among them. Ball State volunteers will work to beautify and pick up trash around the neighborhood.

Time commitment: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon or 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Lunch will be provided for both shifts)
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt and comfortable pants or shorts and comfortable shoes
What to bring: Water, sunscreen, work gloves
Transportation: You can walk, ride the Red Loop or park your car at the Oakwood Building

Recovery Café

Recovery Cafe Muncie provides a safe, inclusive space in downtown Muncie for individuals who are in recovery from whatever is causing trauma in their lives: from substance misuse to homelessness to grief and loss, we welcome everyone to join our community of healing. You will be volunteering alongside our neighbors from IU Health, participating in landscaping activities.

Time commitment: 9 a.m.-noon or 1 p.m.- 4 p.m.
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, casual clothing
Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to Recovery Cafe Muncie: 418 W Adams Street, Muncie, IN 47305

The Soup Kitchen of Muncie

Soup Kitchen of Muncie provides our neighbors who are food insecure with a hot meal and a sack lunch for the day. Everyone is welcome. Our mission is to feed our neighbors in need with dignity and respect without regard to race, gender, equality, or religious preferences. Morning volunteers will help prep and produce meals to be served and distributed and help with kitchen clean-up. Afternoon volunteers will help with cleaning the facility and moving/organizing canned/boxed goods. Some items could be over 20lbs.

Time commitment: Half day, 7:00am – 11:00am OR 12:00pm – 4:00pm
What to wear: Your 2025 United Way Day of Action shirt, clothes you don’t care about. They use bleach as sanitizer when working in the kitchen and dining room – you will get dirty. Closed toe shoes are mandatory. Requirements for morning kitchen volunteers: Hair must be secured by a hairnet (provided), hair ties or hat (baseball, knit), facial hair covered with beard net, no nail art (anything on nails that can tear nitrile or latex gloves or break off into food).
What to bring: Water and work gloves
Transportation: Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to the Soup Kitchen of Muncie, 920 E. Charles Street, Muncie

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can volunteer?

Faculty, professional, service, and staff employees may participate.

Will I be paid for the time?

Yes. You will be paid for the time you normally would have been scheduled to work.

How do I request to volunteer?

Employees must obtain pre-approval from their supervisor and include the time or hours you would like to volunteer. The request and approval must be in writing (email is OK) and your supervisor should retain the document in their payroll audit files.

Once you receive your supervisor’s approval, please complete our online registration form.

Must supervisor approve my request?

Supervisors are encouraged to allow employees to participate. However, the supervisor must ensure that there is appropriate staffing to meet the needs of the organization.

How do I report the time spent volunteering?

Non-Exempt (hourly)

If you are a non-exempt (hourly paid), clock out for the time that you are volunteering (this includes travel time). You or your supervisor will add the pay code “Volunteer Pay” in UKG. As an employee, you can enter the Volunteer Pay directly on your timecard via a timecard edit or a time off request (both will go into a pending status until approved by your supervisor). As a supervisor, you can add the Volunteer Pay directly to the employee’s timecard. This process mirrors how you handle other paid time off such as sick, vacation, PTO, etc.

For example, if Mary is volunteering from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and leaved at 8:30 AM and returns at 1130 AM, she would clock out at 8:00 AM, clock back in at 11:30 AM, and then at 3 hours of “Volunteer Pay” in UKG.

Exempt (Salaried)

If you are exempt (salaried), the hours spent volunteering should also be coded as “Volunteer Pay” in UKG. Unlike sick and vacation that are reported in half or full day increments, “Volunteer Pay” is entered in increments of 15 minutes.

For example, if Mary spends 2.5 hours preforming volunteer work, she would add a line in UKG with 2.5 hours of Volunteer Pay.

If I am the supervisor, what documentation do I need to keep?

Please keep a copy of your employee’s request to participate in the Day of Action along with your approval of the request. If your employee submitted a Kronos Adjustment Form, please keep this document for three years.

If you have questions regarding volunteer opportunities, please contact the Office of Community Engagement.

For information regarding Ball State University volunteer activities and related record keeping policies, please contact Kate Stoss in Human Resources.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Community Engagement.

Office of Community Engagement

Oakwood Building,
Suite 122
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306

765-285-2773