The United Way of Kitsap County’s 19th Annual Day of Caring event was a success in its efforts to bring out local volunteers and beautify and improve the community.

The project hit 35 sites in the area from single homes in Port Orchard to larger projects on Clear Creek Trail in Silverdale to homeless shelters and hospices in Bremerton.

Volunteers made needed repairs and offered clean-up efforts on local parks, schools and non-profits in the area such as Silverwood Independent Elementary School in Silverdale.

Carl Borg, Director of Resource Development for the United Way of Kitsap County, said the event drew 475 volunteers from all walks of life who wanted to make a positive impact in the community.

He said the efforts marshaled $75,000 in volunteer manpower.

“From small to large, the efforts helped everything from county parks, who have felt the recent budget crunches, to non-profits like Children of the Nations,” he said.

Yeoman Bryan Lassiter of Submarine Group Nine at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor was among a dozen volunteers from the group who worked to clean up Chico Creek Trail off of Ridgetop Boulevard in Silverdale.

Lassiter said the group chose the project to make the trail more accessible to the public because the group has tackled the project in the past.

“From officers and junior enlisted, we are all out her to make a difference for the community,” Lassiter said.

Borg said the annual event was a big success this year, but there is always a need for volunteers. Anyone interested in helping can visit www.volunteerkitsap.org to enlist for next year’s event which will be held June 25.