Volunteer complete light trim painting outside of a senior citizen's home during last year's United Way Day of Caring. Other projects assignments include cutting grass, trimming bushes and washing windows.

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On Sept 29, volunteers will be doing yard work for the elderly and those in need during the eighth annual Day of Caring event. There is still time to sign-up to be a project or have a team for the event.

“There are many homeowners in our community that are unable to do outside maintenance because illness or mobility issues. The Day of Caring volunteers are ready to help with those chores; small task such as removing limbs and cutting grass can make a big difference for those who are unable to do the work themselves,” said Caroline Goins, United Way development officer.

Volunteer teams can help with half-day service projects such as washing windows, pruning shrubs, cutting grass and other yard work. Nonprofit agencies may sign-up to be a project site as well. Last year, 36 senior citizens and three nonprofit organizations were helped during Day of Caring and more projects are expected to be completed this year.

“It is wonderful to have an event like this to help people in the community. It’s only one Saturday you spend doing the work but having the chores done is a huge help to the homeowner for months,” said Allen Barfield, Day of Caring volunteer.

Day of Caring is a community-wide service project that serves as a kick-off event for the annual Anson County United Way campaign. All of the money raised here stays in the county to help fund programs that create lasting change in the community. Altogether, last year’s campaign raised 75,000 and a total of 77,000 dollars was allocated to 10 local partner agencies.

Day of Caring volunteers will gather for the 7:30 a.m. kick-off celebration and breakfast at the Wadesboro Town Square. Teams from a variety of businesses, churches and civic organizations will scatter across the county to predetermined sites.

In conjunction with United Way’s Day of Caring, nonperishable goods are being collected for families for the Anson Crisis Ministry to distribute. Donations can be dropped off at the Grace Senior Center, located on N.C. 742 South, the week prior to the event. There will also be collection barrels on the Square at the kickoff on Sept 29.

The Day of Caring committee invites anyone interested in more information on become a project site or volunteer to contact Kim Wilson at 704-694-4036 or Caroline Goins at 704-694-2600.