What is better than a sunny day at the beach? A sun-drenched morning at the beach for community service is better, of course! Students at Metropolitan Business Academy took time out of their weekend to volunteer with the Interact club and to take in some of the last warm moments of the year.

As part of a nationwide 2011 Community Day, USIS (United States Investigational Services), conducted a volunteer project at r'kids, organizing and cleaning the library. r'kids FamilyCenter in New Haven is a licensed child placement agency through the Department of Children and Families and is certified through Applied Behavioral Health for a variety of child welfare related services.

As part of their own annual Days of Caring, United Way of Greater New Haven’s staff and their families spent time volunteering at the Guilford Food Bank, during an annual food drive in the Town of Guilford. Along with about 30 volunteers from various organizations and civic groups; we collected, screened, sorted and stocked the shelves of the food bank. As many people know the economic downturn has severely affected families and individuals all over the state. Food banks and soup kitchens across the region have faced a significant increase in requests for food.

If you are a Greater New Haven resident or have driven through in I-95, you probably know about the new Quinnipiac Bridge that is being constructed along Interstate-95. PCL Civil Constructors are one of the contractors currently working on the bridge, and most, if not all, of them have actually moved here to do the construction. Based out of Tampa, Florida, PCL has been a dedicated supporter of United Way and it is evident that that dedication stands no matter where they might be in the country.