MYRTLE BEACH — Friday is a day of caring.

Sure, it’s a mantra most probably want to adhere to every day. But in the interest of specificity, Friday’s Day of Caring is the start of the United Way of Horry County’s annual fundraising campaign.

Jill Watts, media representative for the local United Way office, said the day kicks off at 8 a.m. at the Horry County South Strand Recreation Center. There, 200 volunteers will gather to have breakfast before venturing out across the county to work on a number of projects.

The main project is adding a new interior room at Garden City Beach’s Help 4 Kids. This new space will be used to pack Backpack Buddies weekend meals before delivering them to two dozen area schools, according to a press release.

Watts said other volunteer assignments include building a handicap ramp at the Surfside Beach Senior Center, handling food distribution with the Low Country Food Bank and installing new shelves to hold supplies for new mothers at Conway’s Family Outreach of Horry County.

“I think this year is unique in that we don’t have one super-large project, but we are having small- to medium-sized projects throughout the county,” Watts said. They run from Garden City Beach to Bucksport, she added.

Once the Day of Caring is over, United Way’s fundraisers will continue in both Horry and Georgetown counties to raise money for approximately 66 community nonprofit organizations.

The Georgetown County United Way kicked off its campaign Thursday with a breakfast at the Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church in Pawleys Island, a press release stated. Former NFL player Terry Kinard, a member of the 1986 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, spoke to volunteers, agency members and donors.

Georgetown County’s ultimate goal is $475,000.

The Horry County United Way hopes to raise $1,275,000, the same goal as 2011. Official numbers from the pre-kickoff Pacesetters fundraising will be released Friday.

Watts said more than 20 companies have Pacesetter campaigns up and running.

“It’s looking very positive right now,” she said.

Last day for voter registration Oct. 6

Horry County residents have until Oct. 6 to get registered to vote in the Nov. 6 general election.

The Horry County Registration and Elections Office will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 6 for registration. If the application is mailed, it must be post marked by the same date.

For those wanting to fill out an application in person, the voter registration office is located at 1515 Fourth Ave., in Conway.

Call 915-5440 for more information.

Animal care center holding pet vaccination clinic

The Horry County Animal Care Center will hold a vaccination clinic on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a press release.

Vaccinations are $10, and microchipping is $15.

The animal shelter is located at 1923 Industrial Park Road in Conway. For more information, call 915-5172.

Contact BRAD DICKERSON at 626-0301.