Local nonprofits benefit from annual Day of Caring

BRATTLEBORO — More than 100 volunteers from local companies, schools, and towns will work on more than 20 community improvement projects on Saturday, Sept. 7, at United Way of Windham County's annual Community Day of Caring.

An estimated $10,000 worth of labor will be donated during the largest one-day volunteer service event in Windham County.

The event's lead sponsors are C&S Wholesale Grocers, Derby Building & Woodwork, Holstein Association, and The Richards Group.

The event begins at 8 a.m. with a kick-off breakfast at the American Legion in Brattleboro. Harlow Farm is generously hosting a kick-off event in Westminster for volunteers in Windham Northeast.

From 8:30 a.m. to noon, dozens of individuals, families, and volunteer teams, dressed in their finest “Live United” T-shirts, will spread out to sites throughout Windham County to provide volunteer service.

Projects include:

• Gardening at Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center in Brattleboro.

• Fence repair at Farming Connections, Inc. in Guilford.

• Trail work at Green Mountain Camp for Girls in Dummerston.

• Carpentry at Southern Vermont Therapeutic Riding Center in Newfane.

• Painting walls at Our Place Drop-In Center in Bellows Falls.

• Outdoor scraping and painting at Saxtons River Montessori School in Saxtons River.

• Tropical Storm Irene-related home repair in Marlboro.

To top off the Day of Caring, United Way of Windham County is holding a Back-to-School Supply Drive to benefit local schools and students in need.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring basic school supplies to Day of Caring. These will be sorted as part of the event. United Way is also accepting donations through Sept. 7 at their office at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., Suite 312, during regular business hours.

Carmen Derby, executive director of United Way of Windham County, lauds the efforts of Day of Caring's volunteers as inspirational.

“Their time and talent create a powerful and moving day for everyone. We're proud to be able to give back to the organizations and institutions that support our county's residents year-round. We're especially grateful to the business leaders and their teams for joining us to make a stronger community,” she said.

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