CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/The Daily Wildcat Robbie MacPherson, Information and Technology Manager for the Human Resources Department, takes part in the ÎUA Cares' volunteer project by painting the walls of a youth shelter early Saturday morning.

More than 100 UA employees and a few students rolled up their sleeves, grabbed a paint roller and spent their Saturday showing people that they care.

The fifth annual UA Day of Caring took place at various non-profit organizations around Tucson.

Amy Anderson, an accountant senior, spent most of her day painting the walls of the Open Inn, a local youth shelter.

She said she is always looking for a cause so she can give something back to the community.

"If you don't give back what you can, it could come back on you," Anderson said. "You never know when you may need some help."

Tina Belasco, a behavioral health worker for one of the youth shelters, said she and the six youths who live in the house really appreciate the volunteers' hard work.

"There are things we don't have the money for," Belasco said. "After the commotion of the day is over, the results will be very good."

The United Way sponsored the event, providing supplies and money for the projects.

Volunteers could choose from painting youth shelters and doing yard work, to making Ben's Bells for Kindness and constructing ramadas to keep people out of the heat at health care centers.

Jania Wright, a psychology and communication senior, said she could not pick just one place to volunteer.

"I was so excited; I was thinking I wanted to go here, and there," Wright said. "I wanted to do many of the projects."

Jennifer Dederich, a graduate student in the School of Planning, said the early hours on the weekend did not bother her one bit.

Volunteers had to be at the location they signed up for by 8 a.m.

"I got involved when a friend suggested it to me," Dederich said. "I am the type who volunteers; it is just finding the right cause to do so."

Titus Hordge, a business, sociology and communication senior, said as an Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member he is used to volunteering his time.

"I like sticking my hand out into the community," Hordge said. "It is really fun getting to meet new people."

Gloria Novak, director of finance and administration for human resources, said having UA employees and students working together makes the Day of Caring more enjoyable.

"It is fun to work side by side with students," Novak said. "They sometimes think we are a bunch of bureaucrats only sitting in our offices, and here they get to see that we aren't."

Having college students volunteering sends a good message to the youth in the shelter, Wright said.

"The youth are seeing college students here and the idea of going to college is put in their heads," Wright said. "It shows them people are working for them, and it makes them want to work hard too."

Novak said volunteers were only asked to help out for a few hours, but many of them ended up staying most of the day.

"At first they only sign up for a few hours because they don't want to commit too much," Novak said. "Then they are here all day until the last branch is hauled away."