President Obama is once again calling on Americans to participate in the nation's recovery and renewal by serving in their own communities.

Sept. 11 is designated as the national day of service and remembrance of those who lost their lives tragically on Sept. 11, 2001.

Locally, the United Way of Moore County is organizing volunteers to serve on projects to benefit local nonprofit organizations on Friday, Sept. 9. The United Way's Day of Caring event has grown each year and now supports more than 100 volunteers from throughout the Moore County community.

Volunteers come from St. Joseph of the Pines, the Moore County school system, local businesses, municipalities, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, other nonprofit organizations and many local residents.

The projects that the volunteers work diligently on include gardening, coordinating school supplies for children, indoor and outdoor painting, outdoor beautification projects, filing and office work, working directly with clients and more.

"It feels really good to see so many people willing to get in there and work to complete these projects," United Way Executive Director Linda Pearson said. "It's amazing to see how enthusiastic they are in the morning at breakfast and to see how excited they still are at the end of their work. This Day of Caring thing we have going on is just great."

Many times, the nonprofit organizations develop long-term relationship with the volunteers as a result of the Day of Caring.

The Day of Caring will kick off at 8 a.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Aberdeen, behind Best Buy, and concludes back at the Hampton for lunch. The Day of Caring marks the official start of the annual United Way giving campaign.

This is the seventh Day of Caring event for the United Way of Moore County. Anyone who would like to volunteer can call the United Way at (910) 692-2413 or visit the website at www.unitedwaymoore.com.

Businesses or other organizations interested in being a sponsor of the Day of Caring should contact Pearson at the above number.