As you drive along Bridge Avenue this week you might notice groups of people scraping away at the sides of houses. They’re climbing ladders, they’re getting paint chips in their hair, they’re getting tans. But these people aren’t just painters working close to each other by coincidence &045; they are volunteers putting in their time to help those in need.

These are coming out to work during the United Way’s annual &uot;Week of Caring.&uot;

The Week of Caring is an annual event when members of the community, most of them representing businesses, work on home-repair projects for people who might not otherwise be able to afford the renovations, as well as helping out local organizations.

Volunteers will be working throughout the week on painting three houses picked out by the senior citizen’s center, doing some spring cleaning at local clubs, beautifying the city and cleaning parks, as well as many other projects.

Groups from across the city plan to take part in the week-long event.

&uot;This is our first year as a member,&uot; said Dawn Freeman, a Realtor from Ron Holtan Realty, who was part of a group of Realtor and lender affiliates. &uot;It’s great way we can give back to the community.&uot;

Freeman and four others scraped away at a house on Bridge Avenue Tuesday. Chips of paint rained down into their hair and on their clothes. But, they enjoyed the change of pace and were happy to be outside.

&uot;It’s also nice because it gets us out of the office,&uot; Freeman said.

The group worked on the house through the afternoon, finishing what the first shift had done in the morning.

Each day, two groups come through and work on each of the three houses.

According to George Morley of the senior center, the houses are picked through an application process. He advertises the possibility and then people apply and are picked based on the problem and the financial need of the person.

Morley said the homeowners are delighted with the volunteers.

&uot;They’re really happy,&uot; he said. &uot;They are just elated that people come do this for them.&uot;

Each year the senior center picks three houses for the volunteers to work on. Morley said he enjoys what the project does for the people.

&uot;I think it’s a great program,&uot; he said.