About 4,500 Centre County residents put their personal agendas on hold yesterday to volunteer their services for the ninth annual PNC Bank/United Way Day of Caring.

The day began with a breakfast at 8 a.m. at the agricultural arena for all the volunteers, followed by a full day of work.

Projects were held at nonprofit health and human service agencies, recreational facilities and historical sites. The work of the volunteers ranged from painting to landscape maintenance to roof construction.

There were more than 50 locations in State College alone where service projects were organized. Work also took place in Beech Creek, Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Howard and Lemont.

Connie Schroeder, a communications director of Centre County United Way, 2790 W. College Ave., said the volunteer turnout was similar to past years. The organization takes on a different number of projects each year, but the number of volunteers remains relatively stable, she said.

Volunteers were of a variety of ages, including high school students.

There was even a request to get some elementary students involved, but the work is best suited for people starting at high school age, Schroeder said.

Schroeder said the increased participation from Penn State students is "what really makes this year stand out."

A significantly greater number of students from organizations such as sports teams and the Penn State United Way volunteered.

The Day of Caring is useful to nonprofit organizations since they aren't always able to allocate funds to maintenance costs.

"It's nice to know that Day of Caring is coming up since we can't always spend money on repairs," said a spokeswoman from the Centre Youth Service Bureau.

The Penn State College of Education was represented by a group of volunteers at the Easter Seal Society of Central Pennsylvania, 1300 S. Allen St. The crowd included faculty, professors, students and the dean of the college.

When the college first got involved in Day of Caring, there were six volunteers. This year they had 26. All of the volunteers from the college took a day of their vacation to participate in the event.

"You don't realize how much [United Way] does until you need them," said Suzy Lutz, external relations assistant and co-team leader for the college. "It's said that one in three people will need the United Way."

David H. Monk, dean of the College of Education, said the event "builds a sense of community."

Lutz echoed the sentiment, saying, "The fellowship is wonderful."

The large volunteer effort is fitting with the Centre County United Way's theme this year, "Inspiring Everyday Heroes," both Monk and Lutz said.

The college holds fundraisers year round and donates the proceeds to the United Way.

"We've increased donations almost double," Lutz said.

On Oct. 21, the college will hold a silent auction at St. Paul's Methodist Church.

Twenty employees of Citizens Bank volunteered at the Arc of Centre County, 1840 N. Atherton St.. The bank has been involved in the event since it was first held, and members of the bank are also on the board of United Way.

"The United Way is something we stand behind," said Paul Lowden, regional president of Citizens Bank. "It's just nice to give back to the community that has given so much to us."