Employees and community members give back for Xcel Energy's Day of Service – by Carly Winchell

Volunteer in Colorado. Image courtesy of Xcel Energy.

Approximately 2,200 volunteers from Xcel Energy and the communities it serves served to support nonprofit organizations at the company's fourteenth annual Day of Service on September 13 and 14.

Xcel Energy logo. Image courtesy.

There were more than 1,000 volunteers in the Colorado region who contributed 3,100 volunteer hours and made an economic contribution of $105,000. It was the highest of all regions reported by Xcel.

Volunteers contributed over 7,900 volunteer hours to support 125 projects, ranging from packing meals and building homes for needy families to cleaning up nature trails and planting trees.

Volunteer efforts this year generated $260,000 in economic impact in communities across the eight states where the company operates: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Mexico, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin . Other impacts from these projects included volunteers packing 130,000 meals, assembling 4,300 kits for teachers and distributing 4,000 dental kits.

Volunteer in Colorado. Image courtesy of Xcel Energy.

According to the company, over the past five years, Xcel Energy has supported nearly 600 Day of Service projects across its service territory with more than 15,000 volunteers and an estimated total economic impact of more than $1.3 million.

“We come together year after year to put good energy into action that drives growth, influences change and lifts up our neighbors,” said Bob Frenzel, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy.

“Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who have given their time to create meaningful change and to the participating nonprofits for their continued work providing services, experiences and education to our communities.”

Frenzel participated in the event by joining volunteers at the Bakken Museum in Minneapolis who worked in landscaping and gardening.

Xcel provided Day of Service highlights by region:

Volunteers in Colorado. Image courtesy of Xcel Energy.

Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota: Over 900 volunteers contributed approximately 3,000 hours, with an economic impact of nearly $100,000.

Wisconsin and Michigan: Approximately 180 volunteers contributed over 700 hours, with an economic impact of nearly $24,000.

Colorado: Over 1,000 volunteers contributed more than 3,100 hours, with an economic impact of $105,000.

Texas and New Mexico: Approximately 140 volunteers contributed nearly 1,100 hours, with an economic impact of nearly $36,000.

The Day of Service, a tradition since 2010, was created as a tribute to the victims, survivors and first responders of 9/11, as well as those who work to keep communities and the country safe. The annual volunteer event provides Xcel Energy and community members the opportunity to come together and contribute to projects that benefit local nonprofit organizations.