"We used to start the United Way campaign by having a typical lunch," recalled Paul Didier, president and CEO of the United Way of Santa Barbara County, "but we thought, why not do something more meaningful, and what we're all about?"

The Day of Caring began 18 years ago in the parking lot of the Santa Barbara YMCA with just 57 people, he said, but has since grown into the largest single-day volunteer event in the county. "We've had more than a thousand people for eight years. We remember celebrating 500 -- we thought that was a big deal," he said. "Most here are adults. We have everyone from CEOs to secretaries, from all different workplaces."

The volunteers will be scattered from San Ynez to Carpinteria to over 60 sites, and will work for about five hours at miscellaneous jobs. All of the work will be for local charities around the South Coast. The value of the labor donated is estimated to be between $150,000 to $200,000.

Some organizations -- such as Westmont College, Goleta Valley Beautiful and Santa Barbara High School -- are volunteering in the hundreds. For smaller companies or groups, such as the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County or Girls Inc., they are able to give between 15 to 20 volunteers. Dozens more send a handful.

Organizations such as the Orfalea Foundation and Santa Barbara Bank & Trust donate money to make the event and free breakfast for volunteers possible.

It all makes a difference, Mr. Didier said.

"I have worked with all these charities, and in the world of charities, you're always not washing the windows or painting the walls," he said. "In one day, we take care of all of that."

He pointed to the landscaping around Dos Pueblos High School, about 90 percent of which was a result of Day of Caring. Volunteers have built wheelchair ramps and reception desks, overhauled the Boys and Girls Club, done beach clean-ups and painted murals. They have cleaned medical clinics, painted offices, trimmed trees, and spread mulch over playgrounds.

"The importance of volunteering ties back into the three most important things that make a community a community," Mr. Didier said. "That's the donation of time, money and ideas. We've found over the years that communities that don't have those things are not as viable."

At the Santa Barbara Zoo, groups of volunteers gathered to help the facility prepare for its new season.

Cher Farinpour, a specialist at the medical equipment manufacturer Medtronic, gathered at the zoo with a group of about 12 coworkers for the afternoon. "We've been doing it for the last couple of years, as a way to give back to the community," she said. Previous volunteer jobs she's been involved with include pulling weeds at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, working for Art From Scrap, stuffing envelopes, and painting the inside of Casa Esperanza.

Rather than bemoaning a lost Saturday, she said her team looks forward to the event. "It's fun!" she said with a laugh. "It's a time to be together outside the work place, and a chance to help. I requested it, because we've never been to the zoo before. We're doing it this year, and definitely coming back next year."

Her group spent the morning painting props and sets for Boo at the Zoo, the annual Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating, storytelling, train rides and costume parades.

Angela Campa, a production buyer at Lockheed Martin, arrived at the zoo with a group of 40 coworkers to help clean the leaves and rocks off of the train tracks. "I just like helping out, to get involved with the community and help people out," she said, adding that she has been a part of several volunteer outings throughout her tenure at Lockheed Martin. "We did one where we worked at the food drive, (which) was good, because it was giving to people who lost their jobs. It's good to be out here and see your coworkers outside of work, too."

Bart Spaulding, a guest services specialist and train conductor for the zoo, said the help was greatly appreciated. "The volunteers are the heart of the zoo," he said. "They help us out with everything. There's always so much to do at the zoo, so anytime we can get some help, we'll take it."

He said that the zoo, like other nonprofit outfits, has been feeling the pinch of the recession, and volunteer work has become all the more important. "They're a huge part of the zoo. Without them, we would be hurting a lot. We appreciate all of the work that these guys are doing."

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