United Way of Thurston County on Friday will kick off the county’s 21st annual Day of Caring.
As part of the day of volunteerism, residents and friends of Tenino will spend the day fixing up the Yelm-Tenino Trail.
The public is invited to join the Tenino Park Commission and United Way volunteers as the groups work to make a remaining still-unpaved portion of the trail useable.
According to City Councilor Wayne Fournier, the goal of the project is to “brush it out so that it is walkable and remove a step in the hopeful eventual paving of it by Thurston County.”
Those who want to get involved should plan to meet at the Ticknor School in the city park shortly before 10 a.m. Volunteers will be checked in, briefed on safety regulations and then put to work.
Parking will be available on the side of the Ticknor School building next to the Tenino Depot Museum.
Volunteers may bring their own lunches or enjoy the lunches provided free of charge by the Tenino Subway.
All are invited to join in the effort; there will be jobs for everyone of any skill level and ability, according to Fournier.
The Day of Caring, according to United Way of Thurston County, is the single largest day of volunteerism in Thurston County.
It’s an opportunity for hundreds of participants to give back to their community. Throughout the county, 750 participants have already registered.
Projects include painting and landscaping low-income, disabled individuals’ homes; harvesting for food banks; park repair; and invasive plant pulling.
“Day of Caring engages and brings together our community to work for the common good in a way no other single day activity does,” United Way of Thurston County Executive Director Paul Knox said. “We are heartened by the 80 percent growth in participation in the past two years.”
Last year, more than 600 volunteers dedicated approximately 3,600 hours to nearly 40 projects, according to United Way.
In 2011, 425 volunteers participated in the Day of Caring.
