Martinsburg Journal Editorial

Sunshine

Day of Caring: Despite rain, the 14th annual United Way of the Eastern Panhandle's event brought brightness to our community.

Tuesday was a bright, sunshiny day - regardless of the weather - because it was the 14th annual Day of Caring in the Eastern Panhandle.

All the fairs and festivals, parades, heritage days and bike nights are great and such events invigorate the spirit of community, but nothing compares to the United Way Day of Caring.

Between 1,000 and 1,100 volunteers, a battalion of men, women and children spread across the tri-county completing hundreds of projects at some 60 different sites.

And there were more than 75 different organizations donating the time, energy and resources to get the jobs done. There were groups of volunteers representing every aspect of our community: churches, schools, private businesses, government agencies, civic clubs, farms, student organizations, individuals and many more.

And the projects not only help United Way member organizations, the projects help individual members of our community, such as cleaning the gutters at a senior citizen's home in Falling Waters or installing a wheelchair ramp at a home on Tuscarora Pike, repairing the foundation of a home on Messner Road or replacing vinyl siding and trim at a home on Tabor Road.

These projects and the efforts of the volunteers make a very real difference, a positive difference in the day-to-day lives of our neighbors, friends and even our families throughout the tri-county.

A price cannot be put on these contributions to our community by our community.

There truly are not words to describe the value of the work performed by the volunteers on Day of Caring, the benefit to the people of our community and the appreciation we all should feel for the willing sacrifices these individuals make for us.

And we would be woefully remiss if we did not thank the board and staff of the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle for putting Day of Caring together each and every year. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and commitment to our community that you demonstrate everyday of the year.

There are only 364 more days until the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle's Day of Caring 2009. So, start planning now on how you can make a difference then - and everyday.