Cancer survivor’s journey sparks 20 years of Cheyenne Day of Giving
CHEYENNE — If Greta Morrow could go back in time more than 20 years and tell herself that her battle with cancer would lead to the lasting legacy of Cheyenne Day of Giving, she’s not sure her younger self would believe it.
What she does know is that even two decades ago, she felt called to support her community.
Morrow survived Stage 4 leukemia and lymphoma thanks, in part, to a bone marrow transplant. During her battle with cancer, Cheyenne’s First Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon, had a blood drive and bone marrow donor registration drive to support her.
“The next year, I thought it would be neat if we could get the whole community to come together and give blood, register bone marrow donors, and maybe we could ask them to bring food to donate,” Morrow said.
Though Morrow’s newfound understanding of the need for blood and bone marrow donors helped kickstart the event, her nearly 30-year teaching career also inspired her to include basic needs in the fundraising event.
Partnered with Needs Inc., COMEA House and Resource Center, and The Salvation Army, the first year of Cheyenne Day of Giving in 2006 saw 1,500 pounds of food donated. Last year, that number reached a record high of 29,305 pounds of food donated, along with items in other categories.
“It continued to grow, and the community continued to support us, and we added ways to give,” Morrow said. “So now it’s what takes up the whole (Kiwanis) Community House, and we have lots of different ways to give. It’s been an amazing show of support by the community.”
Though the event no longer includes a blood drive due to a lack of participants, the first Day of Giving included the option to give blood and register to be a bone marrow, organ or tissue donor.
The event has grown in ways to give, the number of congregations and businesses supporting it, the number of donations and the number of agencies helped through the years.
“It’s very humbling because we just took it one year at a time,” Morrow said. “I did it on my own for like a week, and then there was a committee. People just really wanted to help, and that was great. Gradually, over the years, the community has learned more and more.”
Caroline Veit is one of those who has been with the Day of Giving since the beginning, though she doesn’t consider herself a true founder. When Morrow was just starting out, Veit had just moved to Cheyenne from Virginia. Having worked for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, she, too, felt passionate about creating awareness about blood cancers and bone marrow donors.
“Often, when people get to the end of blood cancers, the only option is a bone marrow transplant,” Veit said. “... Greta is a blood cancer survivor because of a bone marrow transplant, survived it, and continues to survive and thrive.”
While the focus on the bone marrow registry and blood cancer awareness is still a part of the event, Veit said the Cheyenne Day of Giving has always really been about helping those who are sick or in need. That has extended from major illness to disability or dire financial situations.
“The biggest change is the awareness,” Cheyenne Day of Giving Board Treasurer Kristal Wood said. “More and more people are aware of what we are and what we do. For a long time, it amazed me how many people had never heard of Cheyenne Day of Giving, but now I think our name is out there a lot more than it used to be.”
The Day of Giving has expanded over the years, helping organizations with a myriad of needs. Whether it’s food, personal care items, craft supplies, medical supplies, cellphones, housewares, furniture or financial donations, volunteers find a place for all contributions.
People can even bring in leftover prescription medication, which the Wyoming Medication Donation Program will take in and either redistribute to those in need or properly dispose of.
No matter how the Day of Giving grows, the generosity of the local community grows along with it.
“One of my mottos when I was teaching was, ‘If everybody does a little, nobody has to do a lot,’” Morrow said. “... If we can educate the public about the needs in our community — and it goes all the way from food and personal care items (to) all the different ways we have to give and address needs in the community — if we can educate them about that, and they understand that, they’ll respond. It’s been shown to be true every year.”
This story was published on April 19, 2025.