|
|
|
Independence, MO —
Eden Shahan loves to paint. So, she thought, what better way to use that love than to help freshen up Blackburn Elementary School in Independence?
“I think it is really neat how everyone has worked on my school to help make it nice, so I wanted to do the same thing here,” said Eden, who just finished the fifth grade at Procter Elementary. “I feel like I owe it to everyone to give back. Besides, this is really fun.”
More than 1,000 volunteers worked on various projects during Project Shine Saturday. Started in 2008 as Extreme School Makeover, the goal of Project Shine is to clean up and freshen schools within the Independence School District. Five schools are chosen each year. This year, volunteers were sent to Blackburn, Procter, Sycamore Hills and William Southern elementary schools as well as the Sunshine Center.
“I think it is a great way for the community to connect ...,” said Dale Herl, assistant superintendent in the school district. “It is also a way for our teachers and the rest of the employees to pitch in through (projects) they would normally not get a chance to do.”
Among the projects were painting, cleaning and landscaping. Volunteers in charge of landscaping outside arrived at the schools as early as 6 a.m. to beat the oppressive heat.
Rebekah Lindsey, 14, was among a group of about 50 students from Broken Arrow, Okla., who spent the week in Independence leading up to Project Shine. The group taped off and prepared hallways and classrooms at each of the five buildings for painting.
“It has been really awesome being a part of this and seeing all of the work getting done,” she said. “I know we will never get to meet any of these kids, but it is nice to know that what we are doing will have an impact on them.”
Herl said making the schools “crisp and clean” will be a great way to start the school year for the students and staff at each of the five buildings.
“I think this kind of response from the volunteers shows that the community is dedicated to helping their neighborhood schools,” he said. “We could not be happier with where this event has come since Extreme School Makeover.”
Don Claphan, with Eastside Baptist Church, said he feels like participating in Project Shine is a way to tell the community that schools and education are a priority.
“I feel like most churches are ‘come and see’ versus Eastside which is more of a ‘show and tell.’ We are telling the community what we stand for through our actions,” he said. “We have been volunteering since Extreme School Makeover. I believe it is a great idea and it gives our members the ability to focus on certain areas of town where they live. We can give back to the schools in our own areas and really show that the community, and improving the community, is our priority.”
Eden Shahan loves to paint. So, she thought, what better way to use that love than to help freshen up Blackburn Elementary School in Independence?
“I think it is really neat how everyone has worked on my school to help make it nice, so I wanted to do the same thing here,” said Eden, who just finished the fifth grade at Procter Elementary. “I feel like I owe it to everyone to give back. Besides, this is really fun.”
More than 1,000 volunteers worked on various projects during Project Shine Saturday. Started in 2008 as Extreme School Makeover, the goal of Project Shine is to clean up and freshen schools within the Independence School District. Five schools are chosen each year. This year, volunteers were sent to Blackburn, Procter, Sycamore Hills and William Southern elementary schools as well as the Sunshine Center.
“I think it is a great way for the community to connect ...,” said Dale Herl, assistant superintendent in the school district. “It is also a way for our teachers and the rest of the employees to pitch in through (projects) they would normally not get a chance to do.”
Among the projects were painting, cleaning and landscaping. Volunteers in charge of landscaping outside arrived at the schools as early as 6 a.m. to beat the oppressive heat.
Rebekah Lindsey, 14, was among a group of about 50 students from Broken Arrow, Okla., who spent the week in Independence leading up to Project Shine. The group taped off and prepared hallways and classrooms at each of the five buildings for painting.
“It has been really awesome being a part of this and seeing all of the work getting done,” she said. “I know we will never get to meet any of these kids, but it is nice to know that what we are doing will have an impact on them.”
Herl said making the schools “crisp and clean” will be a great way to start the school year for the students and staff at each of the five buildings.
“I think this kind of response from the volunteers shows that the community is dedicated to helping their neighborhood schools,” he said. “We could not be happier with where this event has come since Extreme School Makeover.”
Don Claphan, with Eastside Baptist Church, said he feels like participating in Project Shine is a way to tell the community that schools and education are a priority.
“I feel like most churches are ‘come and see’ versus Eastside which is more of a ‘show and tell.’ We are telling the community what we stand for through our actions,” he said. “We have been volunteering since Extreme School Makeover. I believe it is a great idea and it gives our members the ability to focus on certain areas of town where they live. We can give back to the schools in our own areas and really show that the community, and improving the community, is our priority.”
