United Way of Santa Barbara County Prepares For Day of Caring
United Way of Santa Barbara County is kicking off its 25th Annual Day of Caring this weekend.
More than 1400 volunteers will donate 4 hours to work on projects around the community. This is the biggest single-day volunteer event in the tri-counties.
“We also do everything from like very minor kinds of gardening activities. These are at nonprofits, churches, parks. all of the expenses that they can’t afford to do it during the year. a lot of painting, both interior and exterior,” said Paul Didier, the president and CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County.
Didier has been with the organization for over four decades. He’s seen Day of Caring grow.
“We weren’t even sure we were ever going to do it a second time. first time we did it, we had about 20 volunteers show up in the parking lot of Santa Barbara YMCA,” said Didier.
The Institute of World Culture in Santa Barbara is a participant for the volunteer event. The institute was built in 1872 and is considered a historical landmark in Santa Barbara. The Victorian-styled building has an enormous amount of wear and tear. Volunteers will help repaint the building on Saturday.
“There’s a lot of things about Santa Barbara that make it a unique community and this is one of them,” said Robert Moore, a board member for the Institute of World Culture.
Day of Caring will have a free kick-off breakfast for volunteers at Page Youth Center in Santa Barbara on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Volunteers will head out to their sites after the meal. Walk-in volunteers are welcome.
