Jackson Free Press

Mandy Scott, director of marketing and community relations for United Way of the Capital Area, is organizing United Way's fourth annual Day of Action for Saturday, Aug. 24. The Day of Action is an event in which volunteers work on community projects United Way partners sponsor.

Scott has gathered more than 150 volunteers over the last three weeks to work on project sites around the Jackson metro area. The projects include building a gym for Living Independent for Everyone, an organization that installs ramps and other home modifications for people with disabilities so they can stay in their homes. Another project provides landscaping for Mission First, an organization that offers reduced-cost medical and dental care and other services to communities in need. A third partners with Home Depot in Brandon to renovate the Brandon Rehabilitation Nursing Home.

"This is a great way to call attention to all the great work United Way can do for people and all the community projects (volunteers) can help with," Scott said. "This is something we're doing to make our community a better place. We want to recruit as many volunteers as possible to maximize the impact we can have."

She added: "The response for this year's Day of Action has been overwhelming. We added more projects than we had initially planned because so many people signed on. It's amazing the response the Jackson community has given. It's always great to see people reach out to their neighbors and help them lead better lives."

Scott, 42, grew up in Jackson and moved to Madison three years ago. She went to high school at Jackson Academy and attended the University of Mississippi, where she double majored in English and journalism. Scott joined United Way six years ago.

"I wanted my work to be meaningful, and United Way was the perfect way to do it," she said. "The organization just does so much to improve people's lives and help communities progress."

Scott and her husband, Sid Scott, have two sons; Logan, who turns 14 on the Day of Action, and Walker, 7.

For information on the Day of Action, contact Scott at 601-965-1354 or 601-919-5335, or visit the United Way's website.