VALDOSTA — Area businesses, schools and organizations joined together Friday to participate in a community-wide Day of Caring and help the Greater Valdosta United Way kick off its 2008-09 fund-raising campaign.

At 8 a.m., roughly 250 volunteers gathered at the Second Harvest Food Bank for a day of community service and fellowship.

Among the volunteers were Freeman S. Rivers and Fallon Cole of CJB Industries, who were assigned to the Children’s Advocacy Center. Although this was Rivers’ and Cole’s first time serving as volunteers, CJB Industries participates annually.

“I like making contributions to the community,” said Rivers, as he expressed his optimism about volunteering. “It’s a part of my nature.”

Cole added, “I’m excited that I can make a difference and help someone in the community.”

Previously a day for mentoring at-risk kids from Valdosta and its neighboring cities and towns, the Greater Valdosta United Way changed its Day of Caring last year. Instead of volunteers spending the day at Wild Adventures riding rides and watching shows, volunteers spent a few hours working at 10 of the 21 organizations the Greater Valdosta United Way serves.

Greater Valdosta United Way Executive Director Bobby Yarbrough said, “We wanted to give each of our organizations more exposure while giving those in our community an understanding of what the organizations do each day. The Day of Caring kicks off our fund-raising campaign, which usually lasts until the end of January.”

While some spent the Day of Caring at the Haven, others worked at the Moody Youth Center. Others were assigned to work at America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia Inc., where they helped prepare donated food for delivery to area soup kitchens, homeless shelters, kids’ programs and needy families.

Campaign Chair Jim Morgan said that the Greater Valdosta United Way hopes to raise $1.3 million by the end of the month of January, with the funds allocated to the 21 organizations it serves.

“In this economy, with everyone feeling strapped, it’s probably more important at this time to donate and help make a difference than ever,” Morgan said. “You can never do more good than giving to the United Way to help agencies that serve the less fortunate. You’re also never too young or too old to do something good for the community.”

In 2007, $1,176,761 was raised during the campaign, an accomplishment Yarbrough credits to last year’s campaign chairs, Pope and Evelyn Langdale, as well as the volunteers.

The Greater Valdosta United Ways improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities in the counties of Berrien, Brooks, Echols, Lanier and Lowndes. It does this by energizing and inspiring people to make a difference.

Contributions to the Greater Valdosta United Way 2007-2008 campaign can be made through payroll deduction, one-time pledges with checks or money orders by mail or requests to be billed during the year. Donations via Visa, MasterCard or Discover Card are accepted on the organization’s Web site.