You may have seen folks around town Thursday afternoon sporting orange t-shirts with the phrase "Live United".  It's promoting an annual event through United Way where volunteers unite and cover the city doing what needs to be done to make life a little easier for those needing help.  It's a busy afternoon for this group of volunteers from Black Hills FOX TV just a small fraction of the 800 volunteers who are doing the same thing helping.  Here at the Salvation Army, 194-boxes of food were packed up and are on standby for anyone in need.  Acts of kindness just like this stretched across Rapid.  For Carole Weyer, a helping hand from the Rapid City Police Department makes a huge difference.  Since losing her husband, some of those household chores have gone untouched.  Weyer says, "I couldn't - I mean it wouldn't have never gotten done. My husband passed away in 2005 and so much of the things that they are doing just remained undone since he's been gone."  The police department is even completing a project left by Weyer's husband - finishing a small patio.  Stroke by stroke, improvements are being made - lives are being touched.  Weyer says, "Oh my, matter fact, I broke down and cried this morning because I was just so overwhelmed with gratefulness."  Weyer is not alone.  In all, 120 projects were tackled today.  For non-profits and the neighbor up the street volunteers painted, organized, mowed, trimmed bushes, washed windows - made a difference in someone's life.  Renee Parker, the executive director of United Way of the Black Hills, says, "I think just knowing that they care. Knowing that someone needs them and I think that they always say if you're really, really feeling bad about anything, the best thing you can do is go out and help somebody else, and I think that's what this is all about."

Justin Pazera