Several volunteers pulled up their sleeves in Logan County Wednesday, July 25, for the United Way’s Day of Caring event.

The United Way Day of Caring is a one day, structured volunteer opportunity that provides participants with a peek at volunteering. On this one day, businesses make a commitment to offer their employees a chance to “step away from their desks” to provide hands-on, volunteer labor for a wide variety of projects. Team participation in the Day of Caring aids in building camaraderie and goodwill among employees while also helping the community.

“We appreciate all the volunteers and their employers who allowed them the time to volunteer to help make their community a better place,” said Russellville Mayor Mark Stratton. “The many volunteers took time out of their days and their busy schedules to help beautify our city and we can’t say thank you enough,” added the mayor.

On this one day, 1210 volunteers representing 85 companies across Allen, Barren, Logan, Simpson, and Warren Counties joined local non-profit organizations to complete a total of 105 projects. Two-hundred and seventy nine more volunteers were scheduled to participate in 2012 than 2011 making this Day of Caring the largest mobilization of volunteers to date.

“Our area is blessed with so many caring organizations and individuals willing to give their valuable time to assist in completing these 105 projects for nonprofits. Our Day of Caring has a positive effect for both the volunteers who participate as well as the organizations that the projects are done for. The impact of today’s activities will be felt for months to come,” said Debbie Hills, Interim President, United Way of Southern Kentucky.

Ten projects were completed by 90 volunteers representing nine companies in Logan County (an increase of 22 volunteers over 2011). Some of the work completed included painting playground equipment at the Logan Memorial Park: Ventra Plastics; outdoor seating for Logan County Good Samaritan: Post Oak Baptist Church; Operation Clean Wheels for Community Action of Southern Kentucky: Logan County Chamber of Commerce; beautification/mulch on the Square for the City of Russellville: U.S. Bank; a fishing tournament for ARC of Logan County: Logan Aluminum, and a toilet paper drive for Logan County Good Samaritan: Logan Memorial Hospital, BB&T, Post Oak Baptist Church, Macedonia Church, and Pearce Memorial Methodist Church.

Some of the volunteers that helped during the Day of Caring in the city of Russellville were, Ron Barbe, Shelly Barbe, Ken Campbell, Carol Elliott, Peter Gallpeau, Becky Gregory, Bryan Johns, Mike Jones, Marvin Stratton, Janice Belcher, Brandi Ehischide, Randah Hutchinson and Cristal Rogers.

Other work being done in the City of Russellville that is being appreciated includes the trimming of branches on Sportsman Club Road.

According to mayor Stratton Judge/Executive Logan Chick and his road crew came out and trimmed some trees on the road as a favor to the city. The county has the equipment to accomplish the trimming whereas the city does not.

“We appreciate what the county does for us. We don’t have the equipment to do that type of work and by the county coming in and working with us, it gets done,” said Stratton.

According to the mayor, Judge Chick said that anything the city needs to let him know and he will try to help.

“It is good that the city and the county can work together. We are thankful for what the county does for us and the citizens of the city,” said Stratton.