New London, Conn...United Way of Southeastern Connecticut will kick off its campaign is more subdued manner this year by foregoing the traditional “campaign kickoff” event. Staff and volunteers will concentrate their efforts on what really matters – making a difference in the community. The purpose is to take the focus away from dollars raised to the lives that are improved as a result of the campaign. A specific campaign dollar goal will not be announced this year.

As an inspirational gesture the Campaign Cabinet volunteers will participate in a Day of Caring project at Smith-Bent Children’s Center. Instead of spending two hours at the traditional event, they will contribute a few hours of their time to volunteer at a United Way partner program. Child & Family Agency's Smith-Bent Children's Center is a United Way partner program.

Volunteers will work on two projects. One project involves gardening with the children who attend the program while the other project has volunteers removing brush and overgrowth near a playscape entrance.

The projects will begin at about 8:30 a.m. and run for two hours. The Smith-Bent Center is located at 8 Vauxhall Street in New London, 442-2797.

Day of Caring matches groups of corporate volunteers with projects at local nonprofit organizations. These projects occur throughout the entire year. Individuals can also volunteer through United Way’s website at www.volunteersolutions.org/uwsect. The United Way campaign will run through mid-December.