Day about 'people power'

Rain or shine Thursday, the people and businesses of Greater Charleston are being asked to roll up their sleeves and pitch in.

The Trident United Way's ninth annual Day of Caring will bring out thousands of volunteers to work alongside dozens of helping agencies and schools.

Painting, planting, cleaning, reading and carpentry are just some of the chores to be done as groups volunteering from more than 200 local companies, service organizations and non-profits are scheduled to take time off and flood area agencies and charitable organizations with "people power."

Organizers say they have more than 5,500 people signed up for projects in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. The figure is a record turnout and a far cry from the 175 people who took part in the first Day of Caring in 2000.

Officials hope that up to $1 million in supplies and services will be contributed.

"It's a testament to the generous spirit that's in this area," said Sally Burnett, community volunteer coordinator with Trident United Way.

The first local Day of Caring event was held in July 2000, which proved to be too hot for all the outside work that went with it. Organizers moved the next event to Sept. 11, 2001 — a date that is synonymous with the 9/11 terror attacks but was kept because of the power of recovery, as well, Burnett said.

Some of the projects had simple goals but still have left great benefits. Last year, Metanoia, a community development organization in North Charleston, was provided a Day of Caring labor force that the organization doesn't see ordinarily.

Dozens of volunteers visited the house of Thelma Brown, an elderly woman on a fixed income in the Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood, and painted her home yellow, according to the Trident United Way.

Other projects have included mentoring pupils in schools, providing computer labs and cleaning up neighborhoods, as the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command has done.

Burnett said it's not too late to join in, even with just a few days to go. Organized groups can still pick up a project, she said, while individuals can work in the Lowcountry Food Bank for a few hours.

The reward comes out of the results and a few hours of labor, she said.

"People who have participated love it," she said.

Contact Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postand courier.com.