More than 1,200 volunteers turned out for the United Way of Greater Portland’s annual Day of Caring last week.

The volunteers worked on more than 80 community improvement projects including for Camp Ketcha in Scarborough and Kaler Elementary School in South Portland.

The goal of the Day of Caring is to provide free labor for needed projects at various nonprofits throughout Greater Portland. For instance, at Camp Ketcha, volunteers helped put up fencing, painted, gardened and helped clear the various public walking trails located on the property.

Volunteers at the Morrison Center in Scarborough helped with a general outdoor spring clean-up, which included raking, weeding, planting container gardens and cleaning up the playground. The center is dedicated to providing programs and opportunities for people with disabilities.

In South Portland, volunteers helped out at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in the Meetinghouse Hill neighborhood. Jobs that needed doing included planting, weeding, mulching and general clean-up following the harsh winter.

At Kaler School volunteers worked side by side with the school community to help build outdoor learning spaces that are designed to encourage an appreciation of nature and alternatives for play. Each grade level at the school also assisted with the project.

The mission of the United Way of Greater Portland is to support its partner agencies in providing educational, financial stability and general welfare programs to those from all walks of life. See www.unitedwaygp.org for more information.

– Kate Irish Collins

After cleaning up the sandbox outside the Morrison Center day care classrooms, Gorham Savings Bank employees, from left, Lance Nunley, Karen Gaudette complete the job by carefully replacing the toys. Photos by Rich ObreyTD Bank employee Elinor Lisa plants geraniums in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.TD Bank employee Michelle Doody plants geraniums in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.The United Way’s Annual Day of Caring took place on May 19 with volunteers from area businesses assisting nonprofit organizations with a variety of important projects. At the Morrison Center in Scarborough, volunteers from Gorham Savings Bank spent the morning cleaning up and improving the playground for children attending the day care center. Here, Gorham Savings Bank employee Lance Nunley cleans around the swingset outside the center’s classrooms. Photo by Rich Obrey