More than two dozen community service agencies in our area get support from the United Way of Southwest Georgia.
The United Way needs plenty of volunteers.
Friday, people from all walks of life answered the call.
On a normal day, Joyce Clark would be performing an important job in Albany city government.
"I am the administrator over the City of Albany's workers compensation program."
Today, she and about 20 of her co-workers traded in their work clothes for green t-shirts and joined dozens of others from all over Albany to give something back.
Wendy Friar from the United Way of Southwest Georgia said, "we have over 13 or 14 teams."
After some speeches, a blessing and lunch, the teams made their way to their assigned spot.
After leaving the United Way headquarters on Albany's Northwest side, the city volunteers headed over to Albany's south side to help paint a house for Habitat for Humanity.
No doubt, Clark and her co-workers are dedicated public servants, but as painters, well: "we're not experienced painters."
When the volunteers from the city got to the house though, they saw the spirit of community first hand - in the person of 16 year old Shontavious Ransom.
He lives in the neighborhood and simply walked over and volunteered to help out. On such a nice day, why did he choose to pick up a paint brush?
"I like to help out because when I first moved out here I was around 6 and I really couldn't help out when they were building my house, so I like to help when they're building other's houses," he said.
This isn't his only time spent as a volunteer.
He said, "usually, I volunteer at the gym."
And this isn't the only group from the city that is helped out on Friday.
Clark said, "we have another team that's actually participating with the Albany Housing Authority. And they're working at a location on Whitney Avenue, painting an apartment."
It's the spirit of giving back that today is all about.
Wendy Friar said, "I think if you give the community the opportunity, then they'll be winning to come out and help."
And that spirit is exemplified by all of the people who gave their time today, and to one young person who simply wanted to make a difference in his neighborhood.
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Do you recognize the gentleman painting this shed as part of the City of Albany's team in the United Way Day of Caring? It's Albany City Manger James Taylor.
Shontavious Ransom of Albany helps City Manager James Taylor paint a window frame on a Habitat for Humanity home in Albany.
This house on Albany's south side was painted by volunteers from the City of Albany as part of the United Way's Day of Caring.
Volunteers get lunch before heading out to their respective work sites.
Shontavious Ransom paints a frame on a closet at a Habitat for Humanity home on Albany's south side during United Way's Day of Caring.
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