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STEUBENVILLE - Bob Shimmel enjoyed a breakfast, heard words of encouragement and then immediately climbed a ladder and started working Friday.

The breakfast was compliments of the United Way of Jefferson County and the work by volunteers was part of the annual Day of Caring campaign.

Shimmel, along with several other employees from the Franciscan University of Steubenville Physical Plant had volunteered to spend Friday at the City Rescue Mission Thrift Store repairing broken windows and rewiring a warehouse.

After getting his instructions from Harry Kellermier, director of the mission and thrift store, Shimmel soon was perched on a ladder removing broken glass and measuring for the replacement windows.

"This is a way of helping others in need. Just don't cut yourself on this glass," advised Shimmel from his ladder.

Inside the warehouse Kellermier explained to Chuck White and Tom Letcher his desire to see new wiring put in the building with a light switch near the door.

"Do you fellows know anything about three phase electric service," asked Kellermier.

He was quickly assured by the two men that three-phase electrical service would not be a problem.

But they needed to get busy moving material in order to have room to work. That's when J.P. Rigaud of the Steubenville Police Department showed up.

"I can give you an hour this morning, so show me what you need and I will get busy," said Rigaud.

Friday was a day of caring for dozens of volunteers who were busy for an hour or a day working at a variety of projects throughout Jefferson County.

"The Day of Caring is a time when local nonprofits and special community-based efforts receive much needed services from generous volunteers who desire to make a difference right here at home," announced Nancy Grim, executive director of the United Way of Jefferson County.

"During the hard times we face in our area we always reach out and pull each other up," added Grim.

"I cannot thank you enough for what you have done in the past and what you will be doing today," Grim told the volunteers at their breakfast.

According to John J. Mascio, president of the United Way board of directors, "we are running a little behind our normal donation schedule but it isn't for lack of effort. We can all appreciate the issues facing our economy, but we aren't in bad shape."

And 2010 Campaign Chairman Mike Mehalik urged the volunteers to "follow the football phrase and to keep grinding it out."

"It is because of the many kind spirits and open hearts of local people that I believe our United Way of Jefferson County will reach its goal of $430,000 for the 2010 campaign," Grim noted. Twenty area agencies are aided by the local United Way.

Amy Neeley, Tom Balarin and Jamie Blanchard spent their Day of Caring scrubbing carpet, washing walls and doing repair painting at the Cathedral Apartments on South Fifth Street.

And at the Apollo Professional Cleaning and Restoration headquarters in Wintersville, Mark Diekmann and Tori Scovronski scrubbed and cleaned the Jefferson County Community Action Council Head Start buses.

United Way volunteers also spent the day working at the American Red Cross offices in Wintersville, John Gregg Elementary School, Hills Elementary School, in the Yellow Creek area, Mingo Junction City Building, Bloomingdale park shelter house and the food pantry in Amsterdam.

Mehalik reported the 2010 campaign has collected 38 percent of its goal.

"We have heard positive news here today and we just all need to work a little harder," Mehalik stated.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)