It truly is incredible what can be done when the community rallies behind a cause.

On Thursday, 270 volunteers spread out over 17 sites in Vicksburg and Warren County for a day of giving back. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the United Way’s annual Day of Caring.

For 20 years people have taken time out of their days and busy schedules for a day of service. They painted, did landscaping, played bingo, built bathroom stalls and much more.

These projects helped organizations in Vicksburg such as the Good Shepard Community Center, Some Place Special and the Salvation Army that give back to the community, but don’t have the budget to complete needed maintenance on their own.

The organizations where the volunteers worked on Thursday strive everyday to give back to the less fortunate.

For one day,  they received the help in return and the impact was immediately apparent.

Good Shepard director Tommy Miller summed it up saying,“With this many people, it will provide us with several thousand dollars worth of work in time, materials and efforts that we don’t have to provide.

“It saves us money and gives our community a wonderful opportunity to be community with us and cooperate with us as we help those in our community who are less fortunate.”

No one had to participate, but  those who did made a sizable impact on the community we all call home.

It is only one day out of the year, but it shows what can be accomplished when the community comes together to help those in need.

Thank you to all those who spent the day giving back and to those that have done so over the years.

“Can you imagine all the things that have been done in the last 20 years to make sure we are sustainable in our community,” Michele Connelly, the executive director of the United Way of West-Central Mississippi, said.