The smell of bleach is the first thing you notice. It’s the scent of vigorous, deep cleaning, and it’s music to Pati Frew-Waters’ nose. Frew-Waters is executive director of Seacoast Family Promise, a homeless shelter in Stratham, and the beneficiary of a full day’s worth of volunteerism for United Way’s Day of Caring .

Coinciding with Sept. 11, the National Day of Service, Day of Caring gives local companies the opportunity to deploy groups of employees to nonprofit agencies to work on a variety of projects. United Way of the Greater Seacoast matched up volunteers with projects throughout the Strafford County and Rockingham County region.

“Day of Caring helps us get to know people in the community,” Frew-Waters said. “We’re also able to save money and human resources thanks to the work these volunteers are doing.”

That work included exterior landscaping, scrubbing down high chairs, bleaching toys and sweeping floors, performed by Bank of America staff.

“This is all about giving back,” said Kim Bryan, a Bank of America employee and volunteer. “We’re fortunate to have what we have and coming here, it makes it clear that some people aren’t as fortunate.”

Seacoast Family Promise uses a network of faith communities to temporarily house homeless families, while supplying case management, job-hunting support and financial literacy skills.

And the need currently is as high as Frew-Waters has ever seen it. Last month, she saw an all-time high of 54 referrals. The month before: 53 referrals. A normal month would typically see between six and seven referrals.

“The average person doesn’t know how bad it is,” Frew-Waters said.

With the flurry of need, the work of volunteers is that much more critical. Beyond the services the Day of Caring volunteers provide, the day-to-day operation of Seacoast Family Promise is dependent on members of faith communities, mentors and volunteers who cook and serve meals.

“Volunteers are crucial for our existence,” Frew-Waters said. “We wouldn’t be able to do our work without them.”

And no job is too small. Amidst the sweeping and sanitizing on Tuesday, a lone volunteer patiently and surgically pried photos of children and families that Seacoast Family Promise has served over the years off of an old poster.

“We don’t want to lose any of them,” Frew-Waters said.