BCUW Holds Sunny Day of Caring

Day of Caring volunteers spruce up the landscaping at LifeSpan.

JournalNews :: 4.21.05 — A bright, sunny day made for a good day to volunteer.

More than 50 volunteers participated Wednesday in the Butler County United Way’s Spring Day of Caring throughout Hamilton. Most of them performed landscaping jobs, general office cleanup or stocked shelves at nonprofit agencies such as LifeSpan and Shared Harvest Foodbank.

A breakfast at the YWCA on corner of Dayton and Third streets kicked off the event for volunteers and United Way officials.

“It’s a good chance to do stuff and get work done at agencies,” said Amanda Obringer, marketing and communications specialist for the Butler County United Way.

About 10 nonprofit agencies, most of which receive United Way funding for programs, participated in the event. United Way officials received donated mulch, flowers and other items needed for landscaping from local businesses.

Sisters Iesha and Kamaria Holland of Hamilton spent half the day helping out as needed in the United Way office on North Third Street.

Dressed in United Way T-shirts, jeans and sneakers, the sisters also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club.

“It’s a good feeling to know that you’re helping somebody else,” Kamaria, 15, said.

Although the Holland sisters are no strangers when it comes to volunteering, they said, Wednesday was the first time they participated in the Day of Caring.

United Way’s Day of Caring is held twice a year in Butler County. The Fall Day of Caring will be Sept. 21.

“Instead of somebody doing for you, this a way of giving your time,” Iesha, 14, said.

View the 2005 Spring Day of Caring photo gallery.