DAY OF CARING WILL FILL NEEDS

It only took one visit to the Easter Seals Early Learning Center for Marla Rhodes and Mary Brewer to know they wanted to return.

Their visit was part of the Days of Caring sponsored by the Area Wide United Way. Most volunteer groups will begin work today.

Both women learned about the program through their jobs at Target.

"I was amazed with how they got around," Brewer said of the children. "They can do just about anything; it just takes them a little longer."

Brewer spent most of the morning working with the six children in the toddler class at the learning center.

The Easter Seal Society, an agency partially funded through the United Way, serves children with special needs and handicaps in a five-county area.

"We can always use extra hands," said director Chuck Martin. "It's a good experience for us as well." This is the first year that the learning center has participated in the United Way event.

Day of Caring was designed to let volunteers who contribute to the Area Wide United Way see how each agency operates and how it uses funds.

"We can set up an agency visit whenever, and we really encourage those because people get to see their money at work," said Deena McCutchen, administrative assistant at the United Way.

But working with an agency on a special project or volunteering for the afternoon really demonstrates how each agency serves specific community needs.

The United Way acts as an umbrella organization for 19 health- and human-services agencies in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City.

When the Salvation Army Thrift Store had an overload of donations, volunteers from JCPenney were enlisted to help.

The staff size at the store will double today when JCPenney volunteers lend marketing ideas during their Day of Caring visit.