Day of Caring helps United Way agencies

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
August 6, 2004
Eleven local United Way of East Mississippi agencies will get some help today as Day of Caring volunteers fan out to paint, clean, organize and repair whatever needs it.
The volunteers are employees of local businesses and organizations that have pledged to sponsor the annual United Way fund-raising campaign. Those businesses are called "Pacesetter" companies.
Katy Watkins, campaign director of United Way of East Mississippi, said the Day of Caring was developed with four goals in mind.
She said the United Way's fund-raising goal this year is $700,000.
Pacesetter companies, volunteers, United Way agency directors, board members and staff were treated to breakfast at Applebee's Thursday morning.
Pacesetter companies this year are: Alliance Health Center, AmSouth Bank, Avery Dennison, Citizen's Bank, Community Bank, Coca-Cola, Dillard's, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, J.C. Penney, Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, Long Wholesale, McRae's Department Store, Mississippi Power, Mitchell Companies and Rush Health Systems.
About 100 volunteers are expected to participate in this year's Day of Caring at the following United Way agencies: the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Club, Care Lodge, Community of Hope, Girl Scouts, Hope Village for Children, Multi-County Community Service Agency, LOVE's Kitchen, Meridian Speech and Hearing and Wesley House Community Center.