Day of caring returns Saturday

Published 10:00 am Thursday, September 15, 2011

Volunteers from Faith Church pitch in at the home of Julie Everson during the United Way’s fifth annual Day of Caring last year. - Herald file photo

Austin residents will lend a helping hand to their neighbors Saturday.

About 107 people will volunteer for the United Way’s Day of Caring, which is returning for the sixth time to help elderly and needy residents.

“It is a day where we send out teams of volunteers to do projects for home owners,” said United Way Director Mandi Lighthizer-Schmidt.

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Groups will paint, caulk windows, trim trees and help with outdoor work that many elderly residents can’t complete.

“A lot of these projects help these seniors live independently,” Lighthizer-Schmidt said.

While Lighthizer-Schmidt said some of the work may not seem like big projects, it’s work the home owners can no longer do themselves.

“It might not seem like much to do windows, but it’s stuff these folks can’t do anymore,” she said.

The volunteers will complete projects at 14 area homes. The morning starts with a 8 a.m. meal before groups begin work around 8:30 a.m. The work generally last a few hours, depending on the project.

In the six years, home owners have been happy to have a helping hand.

“They could not be more appreciative,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”