About 275 people united together in Corning, Elmira, Bath and Hornell Wednesday to participate in the United Way Day of Caring. This is the 13th year the foundation has organized this day for volunteers to give back to the community. Twenty-five companies from Chemung and Steuben counties sent volunteers to work on projects at different not-for-profit organizations.

"We put together a list of projects that the agencies give us and we send that out to the people who are interested in volunteering, and they pick where they want to go," said Ron Hatch, president of the Southern Tier United Way.

The Child Care Center at Christ Church in Corning received volunteers from Corning Inc. They helped reorganize closet space for toys while children stayed with their teachers.

"Without the community and support from our families and other community members, our child care center would not have the quality that it does," said Child Care Center Executive Director Cindy Cevette.

The child care center isn't the only place participating in the day of caring. It's one of 35 different locations welcoming volunteers to help with different projects. In fact, down the street is the Corning Meals on Wheels where volunteers are preparing food deliveries. And down on the other end is a nursing home where volunteers are reading to the elderly.

"It's sort of immeasurable, the value of the hours that we're putting in today and doing these little projects that they really just don't have the staff to cover," said Kira Johnson, a volunteer.

Proof that sometimes it's more beneficial to donate time instead of money.

Based on the 2009 national value for volunteer hours, United Way estimates more than $12,000 worth of work was provided by the volunteers.