Helping with the makeover

The Extreme School Makeover in the newly expanded Independence School District has attracted a lot of volunteers who have their own reasons for helping. One organization that has become passionate about the change is the Cockrell & McIntosh Pediatrics office.
Dr. Michele McIntosh, one of the owners of the office at Sterling and Winner in Independence, is looking forward to helping with the work over the weekend. The group has been assigned to work at Three Trails Elementary.
“(The children) really need it,” McIntosh said. “That’s why we’re volunteering. That’s why we’ve always supported the Independence School District.”
A group of about 20 doctors, nurses and receptionists from the office plan to volunteer this weekend.
“When this opportunity came up to volunteer...Dr. (Charles) Cockrell said, ‘Let’s donate $5,000,’ and I said, ‘OK,’” McIntosh said.
Along with donating money towards the project, Cockrell asked his co-workers in the office to volunteer their time.
McIntosh said the other doctors and she have kept the Independence office location, which is located near the border of the Kansas City School District and the Independence School District, through the abandonment of that area by other medical practices and even residents.
“We are committed to the neighborhood and that is why it is so important for us to have a good school district,” she said.
McIntosh said she thinks the Independence neighborhoods that are in the Kansas City School District have a difficult time keeping residents.
“The neighborhoods here - Fairmount and Englewood – have pretty strong neighborhood associations trying to keep them alive, but they are working uphill...because of the Kansas City School District,” she said.
McIntosh said she is hopeful for the improvement of the area now that it is in the Independence School District.
“For them to come into this area and take over the schools is good for...everything,” McIntosh said.
Although McIntosh said everyone in the office is excited for the volunteer work over the weekend, she also said the patients are ready to see change in the area.
“The patients are very excited about it,” she said. “Especially the ones that have toughed it out.”