By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Thousands of volunteers mobilized at HSBC Arena Wednesday morning for the 11th annual United Way "Day of Caring." They will be working on projects from recycling bikes to washing wheelchairs.
Here are some fast facts about the "Day of Caring." About 6,000 volunteers participate from over 250 companies, working at project sites in Erie and Niagara counties.
President of the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Arlene Kaukus said each year more companies, agencies and organizations jump on board, bringing new volunteers and projects.
Wednesday a brand new East Side playground will be built.
"Where we are going to be installing a toddlers' playground on Wohlers Avenue in collaboration with a neighborhood association," said Kaukus. "That's a grassroots effort. And those are the kinds of things that have changed over the past eleven years."
Kaukus said budget margins at non-profits are so tight that this free help is needed.
About 200 agencies are participating.
Last year, agencies and organizations in Erie and Niagara counties saved about $400,000 on projects.
"The entire gambit of them need resources. They need the time and talent," said Kaukus. "The beautiful thing about the 'Day of Caring' is that it is one day, and it is unbelievable what happens in one day."
"But it is the sustained volunteer development that occurs year round," she added.
Volunteers will clean wheelchairs at three Aspire sites, formerly known as the United Cerebral Palsy.
AmeriCorp volunteers will recycle bicycles. Other volunteers will take children to the zoo. And Kaukus said there will be a great deal of clean up work.
"I can't tell you the number of places that get painted that probably would never get painted, if not for the Day of Caring"
The Buffalo-Niagara "Day of Caring" is the largest volunteer event in the region and one of the largest single "Day of Caring" events in the nation. And Kaukus said that's "remarkable."