Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — More than 1,100 volunteers picked up paintbrushes, shovels and whatever other tools they needed to improve and beautify the community Sept. 15 during United Way of Santa Barbara County’s (UWSBC) 27th Annual Day of Caring.
Teams and individual volunteers spread out to 53 community projects, including clean-up at several Montecito properties damaged during the January mudslides, organized in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County. From completing much needed vegetation work at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission’s Bethel House to sprucing up around the Santa Barbara Zoo, volunteers completed an estimated $300,000 in donated labor.
“Volunteers always do amazing work for Day of Caring, but this year’s group was truly outstanding,” said Steve Ortiz, President & CEO of United Way of Santa Barbara County. “This has been an incredibly difficult year for so many in our community, and volunteers seized this opportunity to turn the tide and make a difference.”
Volunteers worked from 9 to noon and finished up at a Thank-You BBQ at Oak Park, generously sponsored by Alberstons/Vons.
Day of Caring is part of a nationwide effort to support community organizations by connecting thousands of volunteers with beautification and improvement projects that otherwise might not be completed.
Thank you to this year’s sponsors: Albertsons/Vons, Cottage Health, Costco, Cox, Exxon Mobil, Karl Storz, La Arcada, Lockheed Martin, Montecito Bank & Trust, Pacific Coast Business Times, ParentClick.com, Procore, Santa Barbara Independent, Santa Barbara News-Press, Stonefire Grill Ventura, The Towbes Group, and Union Bank.
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC): has the unique and positive vision that “in our community, everyone has a hopeful future.” Since 1923, UWSBC has served Santa Barbara County community through funding, volunteer development, and by utilizing its own unique initiatives that involve dozens of local non-profit and public sector agencies. UWSBC’s local community driven Power of Partnership™ priorities help children, families & seniors with a focus on Education, Income and Health.