About 201 employees from 23 Vicksburg companies took the day off to lend their services in landscaping, painting, cleaning, repairs, carpentry and meal delivery Thursday.

“I continue to be amazed at the volume of support,” said Barbara Tolliver, director of United Way of West Central Mississippi, which held its Annual Day of Caring. “We saw more volunteers than last year. People were saying ‘send me where you need me.’”

Tolliver said more volunteers were from upper management jobs, too.

“They didn’t just send people. They came out with their team in support of United Way and for our community,” Tolliver said.

One group of nearly 20 people from DiamondJacks Casino & Hotel planted flowers, painted and installed racks and cabinets at the Warren County Children’s Shelter.

“We do it every year. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Ernest Wilmore, compliance manager for DiamondJacks.

Volunteering for her fourth year, Tomeka Moore, staff accountant for the casino, said the day “gives volunteer help to do things the agencies can’t afford to do.”

The shelter, which is currently serving seven children, participates each year, said Cindy McCarley, shelter program director, adding there’s another benefit. “It’s a way for people to learn about your agency,” she said.

Across town at The Salvation Army, volunteers from Rainbow Casino installed baseboards, cleared overgrown brush and planted.

“You’d be surprised at what you could do with flowers and dirt and mulch,” said Tim Hunter, director of nongaming operations for Rainbow Casino.

After breaking through the “titanium dirt,” the team planted assorted beds and added two red maple trees on the grounds.

“It’s very compacted. That’s from years of foot traffic,” said Hunter, adding the group designed the flower beds, secured materials, potting soil, flowers and red mulch for the project.

Jyda Tucker, casino security shift supervisor, said, “It’s going to make it look a lot prettier. It’s going to help the community.”

Tami Milazzo, director of Community Investments for United Way, said 180 people volunteered from 22 companies last in 2009.

Milazzo drove from agency to agency offering juice, water, bags of goodies and words of encouragement to volunteers.

“This has been an awesome year,” she said. “We’ve definitely gotten a bigger turnout. Companies are seeing. Now, they want to get out and help more.”

Milazzo said companies began calling to volunteer in January, a month before she started sending e-mails requesting participation.

The day of caring educates donors about United Way and its agencies, helps agencies, promotes volunteering, strengthens the community and improves the nonprofit’s campaign results, Milazzo said.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com