United Way’s Day of Caring is your way to show commitment to the community — without having to write a check or dig into your pockets.

It’s a fine way to teach your children they too can support their island—Lopez, Orcas and San Juan all have Day of Caring projects—with a bit of elbow grease.

On San Juan, some people will meet at the Family Resource Center, next to the Food Bank. Some will work on sprucing up Sunken Park. On Orcas, volunteers will be working at Moran State Park, on Lopez, people will be working at the Hamlet retirement village.

Elli Gull at the United Way office (360-378-4121, unitedwaysjc@rockisland.com) will be happy to provide details.

The Day of Caring, Saturday, Sept. 8, is United Way’s fundraising kickoff for 2012. Before the end of the month, Bill Morrissey, chairman of United Way San Juan County, will send letters to property owners on every island seeking support of the United Way Community Safety Net, which funds 23 programs run by 16 social service agencies on all three islands.

Those programs target three priority categories: children and families, elderly adults, and adults with disabilities. Make the United Way priorities your priorities.

Because it’s successful at concentrating charitable contributions into 23 programs, United Way provides meaningful support to hundreds of your neighbors. People get the help they need from agencies and providers who are experienced, compassionate professionals.

You don’t have to win the lottery to contribute. In addition to the Day of Caring, you can volunteer time: United Way is looking for board members, especially from Orcas, Lopez and Shaw. Raising money is time-consuming, hard work, but United Way can only be as successful as the hard work its volunteers contribute.

By helping others, you help yourself. And the good karma will come back to you.