Several non-profit organizations will benefit from volunteers doing jobs during “Day of Caring” Sept. 20.

“Day of Caring” is organized by United Way of Muscatine, said Hilary Henke, Community Engagement Manager for United Way of Muscatine.

“Day of Caring is a community-wide volunteer event where businesses, faith-based organizations, civic organizations, other groups, and individuals complete projects for non-profit organizations, senior citizen homes, schools, or community spaces. Community members have the opportunity to give back, and we can accomplish a lot of work in just one day,” Henke said. “Day of Caring began in Muscatine in 2004, so this is our 19th year.”

Any non-profit is eligible to submit a project for the day’s event.

“Projects are located throughout Muscatine,” Henke said. “We’ll have volunteers working with the MCSA on neighborhood revitalization projects, doing yardwork/painting at senior citizens’ homes, clearing trails and building picnic tables at the Fairport Fish Hatchery, reading to children at local elementary schools, installing smoke alarms in homes with the Red Cross, building beds for children in need and so much more.”

Volunteers will be working with MCSA, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Weed Park Zoo Garden, the Community Foundation of ere are Muscatine, Family Resources, Musserville Church, It Takes a Village Animal Shelter, Muscatine Community School District/Aligned Impact Muscatine, Fairport Fish Hatchery, Flickinger Learning Center, Friends of the Pine Creek Grist Mill, senior citizens through Senior Resources, and projects with the Red Cross, Heinke said.

This day shows what it means to LIVE UNITED. Everyone working together helps to create a healthy and prosperous community. Volunteers are able to assist an agency or a neighbor with a project that would not normally be completed due to a lack of money, physical ability, resources, or staff.

Painters volunteering during last year’s Day of Caring.

“Day of Caring is a really important event in our community, and it’s inspiring to see so many people working together to create a better tomorrow for everyone,” Henke said.

The Muscatine city-wide Day of Caring is held annually in September, but there are other Day of Caring events throughout the year. In the spring, there is the Muskie Day of Caring and Falcon Day of Caring for students. Wilton also has a city-wide Day of Caring, which includes students and local businesses/individual volunteers. In the summer, an Intern Day of Caring is also held within the organization.

For more information about United Way of Muscatine, you can visit their website at unitedwaymuscatine.org.