By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Western New Yorkers turned out in force Wednesday for the tenth annual United Way day of Caring. More than 6,000 volunteers were deployed to lend a hand fixing, painting and sprucing-up their communities.
It started as a humble idea in Pittsburg in 1991. Volunteers getting together -- one day a year -- to work on special projects for organizations that serve the comunity every day of the year.
Over the last decade, Buffalo has tripled its volunteer force for the single day event. The 6,000 volunteers were assigned to hundreds of projects at 187 agencies throughout Niagara and Erie counties.
It's Western New York's largest volunteer effort, and one of the nation's largest Day of Caring events. Bill Swan is president and CEO of First Niagara Bank and co-chair with his wife Ann for this year's event. Swan says Buffalo exemplifies a proud national tradition.
"It's a noble effort what we do in this country, and if you think of all the things that could not takle place -- all the hospitals, and schools and social work agencies, and all these not-for-profits -- it would be impossible for them to exist without volunteerism," said Swan. "With the 6,000 people coming out, and showing the way here in Buffalo, Western New York and Niagara and Erie Counties, it just continues to put Buffalo on the map as an extremely generous community."
Wednesday's event included a variety of projects -- from trimming trees and painting fences at nursing homes, to repairing playground equipment and building picnic tables for recreation centers.