HAMILTON — Armed with rakes and shovels, about 20 Duke Energy employees spruced up the grounds of a local nonprofit agency as part of the Butler County United Way Spring 2008 Day of Caring.

"This is our way of making the community a great place to work and live,'' said Tim Abbott, 43, of Fairfield.

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Ryan Reed of Hamilton and the YMCA Camp Campbell Gard helps Jahden Dia, 6, of Hamilton, ride a pony at a small festival as part of Butler County United Way's 2008 Spring Day of Caring.Click to enlarge

Abbott, a Fairfield councilman, was among 120 volunteers who participated in the United Way annual event, which was created to encourage community involvement.

Volunteers played games with area children, toted soil, planted flowers, trimmed bushes and shrubs at dozens of area nonprofit agencies.

The work for some was dirty. But whether the task was landscaping or putting a smile on a child's face, they all hoped the seeds they sowed made a difference.

"When the grounds look nice, we hope it has a positive impact on the people who work here and the people who come here for help,'' said Mark Woelfel, 43, of Harrison, who spent the day doing landscaping at LifeSpan, 1900 Fairgrove Ave. in Hamilton.

About 10 volunteers also visited the YMCA and played games with about 70 children for a minifestival.

Children were to be treated to pony rides and allowed on to fire a truck.

YMCA Executive Director Angela Howard said the annual event is always a big hit for children and adult volunteers.

"It brings the community and kids together to get to know each other. It also allows volunteers to go back to their childhood by playing with these kids,'' said Howard, adding that some volunteers have become mentors as a result of the Day of Caring.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.

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