AMARILLO, TEXAS -- It's a day set aside each year to make a difference in our community. It's the United Ways 2011 Day of Caring. Friday was that day for caring as hundreds of volunteers got their hands dirty.

"Today is about volunteerism. A chance for about 400 to 500 people from the community to come together on one special day, United Ways

Day of Caring, get their hands dirty and do a project that helps about 80,000 people," said Joe Street, United Way Co-Chairman.

Volunteerism, it's the gift of giving and it's been happening at the Guyon Saunders Resource Center since the wee hours of Friday morning. 500 volunteers have been power washing, scraping, painting, cleaning and reupholstering furniture.

"It's just fantastic to see all these people who volunteer and help their community," said Street

The United Way says they chose the Guyon Saunders Resource Centerbecause over 80,000 homeless and at-risk families utilize the center every year.

"The center is so important because it's a unique facility there's not many like it in the country where we have one place where many providers where a homeless person can get a lot of different services here in one place," said Street.

Volunteers say they're happy to be able to give back to the community and make a difference.

"It means a lot to me to be here and volunteer and giving back to our community, the people who don't have a chance to have what other people have," said Alyssa Johnston, Volunteer.

If you missed out on Friday's 2011 Day of Caring, you can volunteer or even donate for next year's event. Just call the United Way (click here for a map) at 376-6359.