Some 200 employees from 16 local companies packed food, assembled outdoor benches and painted flower pots Wednesday as part of the United Way of the Greater Triangle’s Day of Caring.

The event kicked off the United Way’s 2012 workplace campaign. Like last year, the charity doesn’t have a set goal, said spokeswoman Jennifer Bosk.

“The need is so great that a goal doesn’t mean much,” Bosk said. “We’re really working to do as much as possible and leverage every dollar to make the greatest impact.”

The organization raised $16.3 million in Wake, Durham, Orange and Johnston counties last year, down from $17.5 million in 2010. The majority of those funds – 63 percent – are distributed in Wake County.

Employees from PNC Bank, Eaton, Syngenta and FedEx were among the companies whose employees spent a chunk of their Wednesday working on projects to benefit 2,000 clients of various area nonprofits.

During United Way’s corporate campaign, participating employers encourage workers to donate through payroll deductions. Donations have been down in light of the recession and last year United Way was forced to cut its funding in Wake County by 9 percent, Bosk said.

The organization funds 147 programs in 77 agencies, including those at the Inter-faith Food Shuttle, Boys & Girls Clubs and Hospice of Wake County, she said.