Even when there’s not a lot of money to spare, it’s often possible to carve out a little time to lend a helping hand.

Douglas County residents will have a special opportunity to do just that on April 25 when the Roger Hill Volunteer Center sponsors its Day of Caring 2009. The center is a project of United Way of Douglas County, and the annual Day of Caring was conceived a number of years ago as a hands-on volunteer effort to supplement the annual fundraising activities of United Way.

The volunteer center currently is lining up volunteers for this year’s Day of Caring. This is a no-cost opportunity for individuals or groups to have a positive impact on the community. The event often attracts employee or civic groups who volunteer to spend several hours tackling a special volunteer project. It might involve planting trees or doing some computer work, just about anything that needs doing but a local social service agency hasn’t been able to find the time to tackle.

In addition to the Day of Caring, the Journal-World publishes a list each Monday of volunteer opportunities compiled by the Roger Hill Volunteer Center. Some of the requests involve an ongoing commitment, but many are seeking volunteers for a single event or project. More information also is available from the center at 856-5030 or rhvc.org.

In difficult times like these, not everyone can afford to give more money, even to a worthy cause, but almost everyone can afford to give a little time. It’s a donation that benefits not only the recipient but the giver, as well.