INAUGURAL UNITED WAY DAY DRAWS STUDENT AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS
Baytown, TX — November 2, 2026
By Elena Mathews
The United Way of Greater Baytown and Chambers County began a new tradition Saturday in Town Square – United Way Day, which brings volunteers across the community to one place for a few hours of service.
According to United Way of Greater Baytown and Chambers County CEO Kaci Pena Agosto, about 90 community members volunteered at stations with United Way community partners to prepare items that would be donated to those community partners ahead of the winter season.
The event was created to follow the annual Days of Caring, which is a joint effort between United Way and industry partners in the community, allowing industry partners to give back to the community.
United Way Day was created to highlight community members and longtime volunteer groups which have partnered with United Way.
“We’re coming together to support existing partners and resources to make sure they are well equipped going into the holiday season,” Pena Agosto said. “We wanted to give that same opportunity to community members, because we believe that it takes a community to uphold a community.”
The volunteers assembled 200 baby basics kits to donate to Bridge Over Troubled Waters, an outreach organization which provides aid to survivors of domestic abuse.
Pena Agosto said the chapter logged 200 feminine hygiene kits made by volunteers to donate to Clothing for Kids, 200 Hygiene Kits for the unhoused to be donated to Love Network of Baytown, and 200 cold weather kits for the City of Baytown Domestic Violence Unit and Victims Services.
Love Network of Baytown, which was established 36 years ago, is a longtime partner with United Way. Executive Director of Love Network Barb Wooster said partnering with the local chapter not only grants them more resources, but also gives them an opportunity to share information about their organization.
“It’s wonderful for us. The resources that are being provided to Love Network of Baytown provide assistance for all kinds of people in need,” Wooster said. “The opportunity to get hygiene items on a regular basis is a real gift.”
Several members of local high schools’ volunteer groups helped assemble the kits at Wooster’s station.
“With our young people who are here this morning, it’s a blessing to share the good news about Love Network and what we do,” Wooster said. “They are going to grow up one day and hopefully find a place in our community doing service for others in need.”
Goose Creek Memorial National Honor Society President Keana Edwards sat next to Wooster’s booth with a fellow NHS member tying fabric together to make a tie blanket that would be donated to CASA of Liberty and Chambers Counties – a court appointed special advocate volunteer group which serves foster care, abused and neglected children.
Along with Goose Creek Memorial High School students, Lee High School NHS members and Peter E. Hylands Empower Academy volunteer groups huddled around a table to complete their own blankets.
NHS members are required to log a certain amount of volunteer hours to earn recognition. For Edwards, however, that is not the only reason to volunteer.
“NHS is all about volunteering,” Edwards said. “I think stepping out into the community and serving others, whether we receive those volunteer hours or not, is important because we love our community and that’s what we want to teach each other.”
Final totals logged 50 blankets that would be donated to CASA.
Volunteers also created 100 encouragement cards for the elderly participating in Meals on Wheels and 50 bookmarks for Little Free Libraries stationed around town.
Volunteers also beautified Town Square by clearing about 30 pounds of trash and covering sidewalks with inspiring messages and art written in chalk.