FORSYTH COUNTY — Volunteers and Forsyth County residents have big shoes to fill as a local nonprofit gears up for its annual Day of Caring.

The United Way of Forsyth County will kick off its 2015 campaign at 8:30 a.m. Friday with a light breakfast in the Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center. Volunteer projects begin at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Day of Caring is an event that matches teams of volunteers from local businesses, schools, civic organizations and churches with nonprofit agencies serving the people of Forsyth.

United Way’s executive director, Ruth Goode, said last year’s gathering was the “biggest Day of Caring ever,” bringing together about 700 volunteers to pack food and complete community service projects around the county.

The goal for this year is to have many of the teams package more than 60,000 dried, non-perishable meals, which will be distributed to the hungry in Forsyth County through the third annual United Way Food Friday project.

According to the United Way’s website, “The need for food assistance in our community continues to be a challenge, and we want to do what we can to help those who are struggling. However, we cannot do it alone.”

Admission to the event is at least one of the following school items for the school district’s students in need:

* 3-by-5 index cards

* 2-inch binders

* Binder tabs

* 3- or 5-subject notebooks

* Large bookbags

* Flash drives

* Pop Tarts

For questions or more information, contact the United Way office at (770) 781-4110. The conference center is at 3410 Ronald Reagan Blvd.