Once again, on April 27, United Way of West Central Mississippi is asking local residents to get out and help others with their hands instead of their wallets.

For 20 years, United Way’s Day of Caring has allowed people to volunteer to help the local agencies it supports by doing work around the member agencies that their staffs are not able to do, either because of lack of help, lack of time or lack of expertise.

There are 16 projects planned for this year’s edition of Day of Caring, and include landscaping, delivering meals to homebound seniors, painting, minor home repairs, making arts and crafts with elderly seniors, pressure washing buildings and more.

But the annual Day of Caring is more than just getting out and slinging a paintbrush, swinging a hammer or mowing grass or digging weeds. It’s an opportunity to get to meet people in the community and learn about the agencies United Way supports and how they help the community.

“My favorite part of Day of Caring is being able to see the community come together and see all the new relationships that have been formed,” Heidi Burrell, the United Way’s Director of Resource Development, said. “You do not want to miss this 20-year celebration.

“While learning more about the agencies, I hope volunteers have networking opportunities with other community supporters,” she said. “Businesses are usually paired up with other businesses and form relationships that may not have ever been formed.”

But participation is not limited only to businesses; individuals are also encouraged to participate by themselves or forming a team. Getting on board is easy.

People interested in volunteering for Day of Caring, either individually or as a team, can contact Heidi Burrell at 601-636-1733 or by email at heidi@unitedwayvicksburg.org.

The event kicks off next Thursday with a rally between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. at the Vicksburg Mall.

The residents of Vicksburg and Warren County have always been known and cited for their generosity when it comes to contributing to a cause, whether it’s to help an individual, a family or an organization. That generosity is always evident through United Way’s annual fund drive, organizations like the Relay for Life and through their churches.

Day of Caring is another, much more visible way for area residents to show they care.