Volunteers at Santa Barbara Trust of Historic Preservation who were making adobe bricks on United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Day of Caring included Daisy Altamirano, Miguel Nava, and Michelle Cervantes, Santa Barbara School of Squash. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA – More than 1,500 volunteers, including young people from local schools, families, churches, community service groups and workplaces at over 50 sites across the Tri-Counties, participated on Sept. 15 in the United Way of Santa Barbara County’ 21st Annual Day of Caring volunteer event to kick-off its Community Campaign.
The campaign raises pledges to create and operate dozens of community based partnerships focused on achieving community driven 10 year goals in Education, Financial Stability and Health, the United Way reported in a media release.
At 8 a.m. volunteers gathered at the Ben Page Youth Center and enjoyed a breakfast, which was generously donated by Albertson’s. At the kick-off, the Dos Pueblos Drumline marched into Ben Page Center followed by the Santa Barbara City College Cheer Squad to rally volunteers and create excitement. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) said a few words of encouragement to the volunteers.
“You are a community united in caring, you inspire me!,” she said.
The San Marcos High School Madrigals performed the National Anthem, and Mayor Helene Schneider along with Joanne Funari, United Way of Santa Barbara County Community Campaign Chair and President of Business First Bank, closed the rally. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. volunteers helped local non-profit agencies with “hands-on” work assignments.
Volunteer sites included Bohnett Park, Dos Pueblos High School (Goleta Valley Beautiful) and Alpha Resource Center. Projects varied between landscape work, planting, painting, habitat restoration and office work throughout Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Santa Ynez. The work that was done in just four hours equals to more than $275,000 worth of improvements to the Santa Barbara County community.
Kick-off Sponsors for the 21st Annual Day of Caring included Albertsons, Cox, Mentor, Montecito Bank & Trust and Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.
For more information on Day of Caring or United Way of Santa Barbara County, visit www.unitedwaysb.org/dayofcaring
Attending the United Way of Santa Barbara County’s Day of Caring kick off breakfast at the Page Youth Center in Goleta were, from left, Paul Didier, president & CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County; Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider; Kerstin Padilla, United Way of Santa Barbara County Day of Caring project manager; and Rep. Lois Capps. Courtesy photo.