WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - A group of Wichita leaders and non-profits are coming together to introduce a brand new community-wide concept on Thursday, March 16. 

The 316 Day of Caring is bringing several organizations together at the same place at the same time. Anyone can bring items to donate. 

“What we want to do is harness the caring power of the community,” Abel Frederic with United Way of the Plains said. 

United Way of the Plains and City of Wichita are organizing. The event runs on March 16, or 3/16, in the Wichita area, the 316 zip code, at Century II from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“Councilman Bryan Frye approached us and said, ‘Hey, you know, I have this great idea. I've seen it done in other places. I'm reading about it, and it's not done here, and I would like to see it done here,’” Frederic said. 

Here’s what you can donate: Participants can register to donate blood to the American Red Cross. Anyone can buy cookies from the Girl Scouts. 

 

United Methodist Open Door is accepting non-perishable food items, and the Salvation Army needs new or gently used winter clothes, like scarves and coats. Giving the Basics is accepting hygiene products. 

“We just really believe that these things are necessities, and you know, give people dignity and confidence,” Executive Director of Giving the Basics Megan Kice said. 

Kice said she currently partners with nearly 50 other non-profits in the Wichita area. She said she is always “amazed by the groups” she works with. 

“Because of so many of the schools that we serve, we do go through lots of deodorant,” she said. “So if y'all come down on Thursday, deodorant's one of our most needed items.”

Since its Spring Break, organizers said they hope parents will bring their kids along to help their neighbors. This is Wichita’s first community-wide caring event. 

“We want to build some pride in the community, right?” Frederic said. “And, I think we really want to cultivate that next generation of individuals that love on their fellow man. Wichita has a great reputation of generosity, and I think we want to cultivate that with this day.”