So, what are you doing Thursday?

The United Way of York County is looking for at least 500 people to participate in its 11th annual Day of Action, in which volunteers will help the organization's member agencies with more than 75 projects.

The event begins with a red-carpet rally at 8 a.m. Thursday at Frank Theatres, 2067 Springwood Road in York Township.

Free movie tickets will be given to the first 150 volunteers to arrive. The second 150 to arrive will receive coupons for free popcorn. Attendees also will view the United Way's 2012 Leadership Giving video.

After the rally, volunteers will head to their Day of Action sites throughout York County, said Thomas Long, United Way's director of marketing and communications.

"The Day of Action gives (volunteers) an opportunity to give back to the community and do some meaningful volunteer work," he said. "For the agencies, we hope they experience new partnerships and new friendships and benefit from having projects completed they don't have the resources to complete themselves."

On the list: Projects include helping people with disabilities do a shoe-matching fundraising project at Shadowfax Corp. in York; serving during a cookout for clients in need at New Hope Ministries in Dillsburg; and playing beep ball -- like softball -- against a team from Spring Garden-based

ForSight Vision Center, which serves people with visual impairment.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Volunteers under age 18 need their parents' permission and approval from the agencies they want to serve.

People who have to work Thursday can volunteer by signing up to hold school supply and children's book collection drives at their workplaces. United Way representatives will collect the items on Thursday to distribute to member agencies that have before- and after-school programs.

Project sign-ups are closed for most projects, but at the volunteer rally from 8 to 9 a.m. the morning of Day of Action, a few projects will be available for spontaneous sign-ups.

Last year, more than 375 volunteers helped with 76 projects, according to Long. This year nearly 500 volunteers have signed up.

-- Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.

Day of Action

The United Way's 11th annual Day of Action begins with a red-carpet rally at 8 a.m. Thursday at Frank Theatres, 2067 Springwood Road in York Township.

Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Volunteers under age 18 need their parents' permission and approval from the agencies they want to serve.

For information, call Shanna Ream, Day of Action coordinator, at 771-3820.