United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County hosted a volunteering event at H.W. Longfellow School to celebrate the first day of summer.

Volunteers painted hallways, played games with students and helped clean up the Journey House community garden across the street.

While about 70 people normally attend the Day of Action each year, about 90 people attended this year, said Sarah Marbes, a donor engagement specialist at United Way.

“I think it’s important for kids to have pride in their school and to know that other people take care of it and are invested in it as well,” said Meg Kurlinski, a co-chair of the Emerging Leaders Council at United Way. Kurlinski is also an attorney at Godfrey & Khan S.C., a law firm that has sponsored the Day of Action for the last nine years.

United Way puts on the event at several locations around the world annually on June 21, the longest day of the year, but this was the first time United Way came to Longfellow.

“It’s just an opportunity to get out there in the community and give back,” Kurlinski said.