There a many ways to pitch in to a given effort monetarily. Every nonprofit can use donated funds and is always in need of more. But it takes a special person to put in actual physical labor in the name of a cause.

There are the Caring Christian Carpenters who build wheelchair ramps for the disabled; the people who turn out to build homes for others through Habitat for Humanity; those who take to the towns and the river banks, armed with garbage bags to pick up the messes of others who are less inclined to take care of their environment; those who set up tents and chairs and luminaries for Relay for Life events; those who deliver food to those in need through Meals on Wheels.

Up next is an opportunity for carpenters — one that will benefit the many travelers on the eastern North Carolina waterways. Camping platforms, built on pilings, offer kayakers and canoeists outdoor deck and screened-in camping space along the paddling trails of the region. At the project’s completion, a string of platforms eight to 15 miles apart will stretch from the Tar River’s headwaters in Granville County to the Pamlico Sound. The last build was completed in April in Granville County. Coming up soon, the Pamlico River will get a platform of its own near the Camp Boddie Boy Scout Camp on the south side of the river. At a maximum of $15 a night, spending the night under the stars and along the river is a real deal.

The Pamlico-Tar River Foundation staff is actively seeking volunteers to help build that platform now. They are looking for volunteers who can spend at least half a day on the job. They are looking for community involvement to make the community better in a very specific way.

So if a person is mechanically inclined and has a half day to spare, consider pitching in. There are so many ways to chip in without donating a dime.