Above, Brandon Simmons, left, and Kris Callen, members of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, rake out the mulch at Butler County Children's Center as part of the United Way Week of Caring in 2019.

Residents of Butler County will have a chance next month to help their neighbors and assist nonprofit agencies.

The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania will host its second regional Week of Caring from Sept. 10 to 18.

Throughout Allegheny, Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette and Armstrong counties, volunteers will participate in more than 100 projects.

Volunteers will complete a variety of in-person and virtual projects, including painting, landscaping, mentoring, working with seniors and more.

“Mobilizing caring volunteers is a crucial way to provide support to our agency partners and allow them to focus on their daily operations. The projects completed during Week of Caring will create an impact that lasts long after the event has ended,” said Bobbi Watt Geer, president and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

In Butler County, Amy Franz, the Butler region director of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, said, “We invited our partner agencies to submit projects they would like to have volunteer help on to be completed.”

Franz said once the projects are submitted, a project list is sent out to corporate sponsors that hold workplace United Way campaigns to invite employees to support the effort.

The companies will tell the United Way how many people are volunteering.

“For bigger projects, they may accommodate two companies' volunteers,” said Franz.

The Week of Caring has been an event for more than a decade.

Franz said, “It is very well received. People are interested in the outdoor projects. And for many companies it is the first time their employee base will be back together in the same location.”

Franz said many projects are outside and allow volunteers to practice social distancing.

The United Way will release all COVID-19 safety guidelines closer to the Week of Caring. At this time, volunteers should anticipate wearing a mask for all indoor volunteer projects. The United Way will be closely following all updated CDC guidelines and recommendations on in-person gatherings.

According to Franz, the following projects are on the list of Week of Caring sites in Butler County:10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 15, 10 volunteers needed to run a carnival for seniors in the Butler YWCA's Under Our Wing program, 120 W. Cunningham St.;9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 15, 20 volunteers needed for trail work, mulching and painting at the Camp Redwing Girl Scout camp, 103 Rader School Road, Renfrew;8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 17, up to 10 volunteers needed for weeding, cleanup and landscaping at Community Care Connections, 114 Skyline Drive;8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 17, up to 10 volunteers needed for landscaping the educational nature trail behind the Early Learning Connection, 139 Rieger Road;8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 11, up to 30 volunteers needed for a painting project at MHY, 521 Route 228, Mars;9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 18, five to 20 volunteers needed for painting pool, spreading mulch on playground and flower beds, trimming hemlocks and other activities at the Armco Park, 341 Centreville Pike, Slippery Rock. Take own lunch and water as needed. Minimum age for this project is 18;8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 14, five to 20 volunteers needed to complete exterior staining, including roofed over shelter and open roof pagoda at Preston Park, 415 S. Eberhart Road, Butler Township. The agency will provide all necessary tools to complete the project; wear old comfortable clothing, as some staining will be overhead. The minimum age for this project is 18;9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13, three to six volunteers needed to prep for and plant flowers outside of Vocational Workshop — PARC Productions, 100 N. Washington St. The agency will provide flowers, mulch and some tools. Take own lunch, work gloves and planting tools. Wear comfortable yard work clothes and shoes. The minimum age for this project is 18;9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 16, three to six volunteers needed for Lighthouse Foundation's Kaufman Drive Transitional Housing, 90 Kaufman Drive, to do interior cleaning, prepping and painting. The agency will provide water, pizza for lunch, cleaning supplies, painting supplies and paint. Take your own work gloves. The minimum age for this project is 18. Painting experience is a plus.To sign up for a project, contact Courtney Schreiner at 412-456-6702 or email courtney.schreiner@unitedwayswpa.org.

From far left, Penreco employees Sue Klingler, Ryan Smith, Mary Hohn, and Steve Powers worked together painting the deck hockey ring at the Butler Township Park. They were joined in their efforts by 8 other volunteers from C.W. Howard Insurance and AGR International during a past United WayWeek of Caring.