CHENANGO COUNTY – The Chenango United Way will kick off its 2007 campaign on Sept. 22, and this year, many changes have been implemented to create county-wide awareness and to raise additional funds for community programs.

Each year the United Way holds a different county-wide kick off event. This year the event will not only serve to begin the campaign, it will serve the community as well. The campaign will begin on Sept. 22 with a ‘Day of Caring’ kickoff event.

‘Day of Caring’ works as a two-part process. Over the last two months, community agencies and non-profits have submitted project ideas to the United Way. Community members have volunteered to assist – although more are always needed – and on the “Day of Caring” they will be assigned to various community projects. The volunteers will work for half of the day at their program sites completing tasks such as carpentry, leaf raking and creating disaster packets. Corporate volunteers as well as families with children are encouraged to participate.

According to the United Way, to date, more than 55 community volunteers are needed to help complete approximately 12 projects in Norwich, Greene, New Berlin, Oxford and Sherburne. For their efforts, volunteers will receive a ‘Day of Caring’ T-shirt and a gift certificate for a free ice cream cone at Ives Cream in Norwich.