FORT WALTON BEACH — Deb Henry wiped some paint off her cheek before taking her roller to the wall of Fresh Start’s new retail shop Repeat Street on Beal Parkway.
The Resort Quest employee was among around 350 members of the Fort Walton Beach business community to volunteer for United Way of Okaloosa and Walton counties’ Day of Caring.
“This is a way to give back to the community that is over and above giving cash,” Henry said as she spread white primer on the walls with her roller.
The thrift shop expected to open mid-October was filled with Resort Quest employees as they celebrated the 20th Day of Caring.
“This help, its enormous,” said Maryann Helfrich with Fresh Start. “Without this help there’s no way we’d be ready to open in less than a month. It’s amazing to see this.”
The Day of Caring will stretch through next Friday with days in DeFuniak Springs, Niceville and Valparaiso, Crestview and Destin. By next week, more than 800 people in Okaloosa and Walton counties will have volunteered for Day of Caring.
“Not one person can do everything, but together through United Way we can,” said Ronda Davenport, vice-president of campaign and marketing with United Way Okaloosa and Walton. “Time is the greatest gift you can give and it makes a difference to the organizations they are helping.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.