United Way Day of Caring puts hundreds of volunteers to work today

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Thursday is the United Way’s 27th Annual Day of Caring.

In Chattanooga, that means that around 700 volunteers go to work on 33 different projects.

That is more than $100,000 worth of free labor.

One of the projects is the Fragrance Garden at the Orange Grove Center.

Volunteers from Elder’s ACE hardware are clearing, re-sodding, landscaping, repairing and installing new benches at the garden.

Orange Grove officials hope the re-vamped garden will become a popular community space for local healthcare facilities and residents.

Elder’s ACE also contributed $18,065 to the Day of Caring from their Labor Day weekend sales.

Here are some of the local companies and organizations contributing volunteers today.

Local 43 JATC, UNUM, Cigna, McKee, City of Chattanooga, Regions Bank, Kenco, BCBST, First Tennessee Bank, Meditract, Westrock, Roper, Gamma Phi Beta, SmartBank, Elder’s ACE Hardware, AkzoNobel, Husch Blackwell, United Way Emerging Leaders, Warren & Griffin, HCDC grads, Memorial Hospital, Westinghouse, Komatsu, Chattanooga Gas, Spire, & Nehemiah Project.

The volunteers get a day off from work to pitch in.

The Day of Caring is tied to the nationwide 9/11 Day of Remembrance and Service.”

There will be other Day of Caring events throughout the area all month long.