If she had known this week's weather forecast last month, Rose Devlin would have chosen an indoor project site.

But she and other volunteers braved the heat as they pulled out weeds, planted flowers and put down mulch at the York County Literacy Council on Thursday for the United Way of York County's Day of Action.

The work at the Literacy Council was one of 76 local projects that took place in York as nearly 500 volunteers took part in the Day of Action.

A kickoff rally at Frank Theatres at Queensgate Plaza gave participants a chance to walk the red carpet into the theater before having a photo taken with their teams and enjoying a breakfast before heading out to their project sites.

The United Way matches volunteers with skills to complete projects that would otherwise be neglected, said Robert J. Woods, executive director of the United Way of York County.

Giving back: "It's just good to get out there and give back to your community," said Devlin, 31, of York City.

Devlin was taking part in the Day of Action for the first time, along with several of her co-workers from Early Headstart.

Once the volunteers finished, the front yard of the Literary Council looked much nicer than before, said Rita Hewitt, community relations manager for the Literary Council.

"It's wonderful, because we get the benefit of their labor and we get to tell our story on a more personal level," Hewitt said.

The three-person crew at the Literacy Council finished its project before noon. Other sites planned to wrap projects up early to protect volunteers from the heat advisory issued in York.

Historic site: The volunteers painting the colonial courthouse for the York Heritage Trust were thankful for the shade.

"We've been in the shade the whole time, so it hasn't been bad," said Doug Keith, 27, of York City. "We've been rained out before, so at least this year we get to do something."

Keith and co-worker Jan Courchesne, 63, took the day off from work at MANTEC, a nonprofit consulting firm for manufacturers in southcentral Pennsylvania.

MANTEC supports the Day of Action and sends employees each year, said Keith.

Courchesne, of Springettsbury Township, said, "It's a job that needs to be done and it's for a good cause."

--Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com