Rather than spend the day on the job, Earl Pope, a cashier at the Giant Eagle supermarket on Shakespeare Street, Shadyside, grabbed Donnie Moses, the baker, and Bob Hart, the meat wrapper, and the three friends made their way to an old convent on the North Side.

There, they joined 80 other volunteers, from Hefren Tillotson, the Pirates and North Atlantic Retirement Services.

All poured their sweat into what they billed as an "extreme makeover," a painting and cleaning project to transform the 9,700-square-foot site into a residential home for pregnant teens run by Gwen's Girls, a social service agency that aids at-risk girls.

"We're the fumigators," said Hart, as the three men were called down the hall to clean another room from top to bottom.

Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy was there, as was Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, with his daughter, Ciara, 3.

They were among 4,000 volunteers from 111 companies who ran carnivals, landscaped lawns, painted walls and spruced up homes on the United Way of Allegheny County's Day of Caring yesterday. The annual event kicked off the charity's 2004 fund-raising drive.

Since its creation in Pittsburgh in 1991, the Day of Caring has spread to other areas and become one of the nation's largest volunteer events. It is now held in more than 200 U.S. cities, as well as in Russia and South Africa.

Murry Gerber, chief executive officer of Equitable Resources, is this year's campaign chair and said more than ever the tough economic climate means the services provided by the United Way are needed.

"The success of this drive will be measured by our ability to narrow the gap between the demand for services and the resources available to provide them," he said.

Again this year, the United Way is emphasizing its Impact Fund, which focuses on community needs involving children, seniors, health, jobs and housing.

The United Way wants to surpass last year's tally of $33.1 million, a figure which fell $5.6 million short of the 2003 goal.

Also yesterday, United Way and North Atlantic Retirement Services, a financial services firm, launched a new program, "Pittsburgh Kids Matter." North Atlantic will make contributions to United Way on behalf of area school teachers and staff, donating 5 percent of revenues to fight child abuse and build literacy and after-school programs. It aims to raise $300,000.

Gwen's Girls hopes to be in the building by November and will house up to 30 residents.

Volunteers like Earl Pope think it's a good project.

"We're men, but we feel good here," he said. "This is a nice organization for young people."