MOULTRIE — Every year, the United Way of Colquitt County holds its Day of Action to benefit a variety of organizations in Colquitt County and Moultrie. This year’s Day of Action was held on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

“It’s the actual day that we go out to all the non-profits, that we (United Way) give money to, and work. It’s our way of helping the non-profits,” said Sheriff Rod Howell, who was this year’s Day of Action chair.

Kicking off in the Southern Regional Technical College conference center, volunteers checked-in and ate lunch before they headed to their assigned projects. Howell said that this was the largest group of volunteers that they’ve ever had and the event had been moved from the Colquitt County Arts Center ballroom to the school because they needed more room for the volunteers to meet.

“When I got here this morning, I don’t know if we had an empty chair,” Howell said.

The theme for this year’s event was “Rooted in Legacy.” The United Way of Colquitt County has held 26 Day of Action events total over the past years.

Volunteers from several organizations and businesses worked in the community from just after 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Projects included cleaning the Red Cross office and preparing “comfort kits,” painting classrooms at the Colquitt County Arts Center, assisting youth at the Boys and Girls Club in making tie-dye shirts, planting flowers and doing yard work at the Humane Society and helping with two activities for participants at the Green Oaks Center to teach them about socialization and teamwork. There were 12 project locations overall with approximately 150 volunteers. said Caroline Horne, executive director of Colquitt County United Way.

Everybody who participated seems to have an affiliation of some kind with one of the non-profits, said Howell.

At the Boys and Girls Club location, Nancy Najera of Quality Employment was the volunteer coordinator. She said the club is near and dear to her heart because her kids are members. She said it’s not just a place for Northwest Moultrie but a place for all kids no matter their race.

“They come in as a family and they leave as a family,” she said.

There were 15 volunteers to man four tie-dyeing stations that the kids made their shirts at. Before the kids got to the club, the volunteers had an opportunity to visit with each other and with La Teegra Fiveash, the program director for the Boys and Girls Club. She told them a little of what to expect when the kids arrived at the club.

“It’s just cool to see everyone come out and help,” Howell said at the wrap-up party.