CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 800 employees from 70 businesses, schools and organizations in West Virginia are involved in a number of community projects for the United Way of Central West Virginia’s 12th Annual Day of Caring.
Volunteers were in Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Logan and Putnam counties Wednesday to help with 65 projects. Tasks included painting, cleaning, landscaping, construction and more.
BB&T had about 20 volunteers participate in projects around the Charleston area.
“Each company that is a part gives their time off to their employees to be able to come and donate their time. It’s one day a year,” said Debby Hicks, coordinator for BB&T’s projects.
Several BB&T employees were at United Way’s building to do some landscaping around the facility.
“We are cleaning up around United Way building. We’re getting rid of some of their shrubs. It’s a little bit of a safety issue for them here because part of their shrubs were hiding their entry way, so we’re cutting down and cleaning up for the season,” Hicks said.
Volunteers also helped with painting the building. Their second project includes cleaning piers that were painted by local artists under Interstate 64 in Charleston.
Hicks said Day of Caring is about giving back to United Way and the community as a whole.
“It really means a lot to me because they do so many worth while things,” she said. “If we can do things like this to free up their time or help with utilities or just food, it means a lot.”
United Way’s LifeBridge AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America program collected food items as part of the Day of Caring project. Pantries that will receive the food items include: Heart and Hand Kanawha County, Mountain Mission, Nitro Food Pantry, The Salvation Army and Tyler Mountain/Cross Lanes Community Services.