|
 |
On Saturday, July 16th rollers swirled and brushes flew as more than 200 local volunteers gathered at two public schools in Hancock County for Community Day.
From 9am until 2pm, parents, students, teachers, and others worked side by side to paint the classrooms and hallways of Bay High School and South Hancock Elementary.
The event was the result of a partnership between Bay-Waveland Habitat for Humanity and the two schools to help spruce up their schools for the coming year. |
| “Our schools are vital to the success of our community,” commented Wendy McDonald, Bay-Waveland Habitat’s executive director. “We created this partnership to utilize our skills in construction and volunteer management to benefit our schools in their mission.”
At Bay High School, more than 75 volunteers covered the walls of eleven classrooms with fresh white paint. Listening to rock and roll music, they worked in a festive atmosphere. |
|
| “We had a lot of fun,” commented Judy Ryan. “It feels good to give back to the community and help make the school look nice.”
”Putting a fresh coat of paint definitely improves the climate of the school and helps make it more conducive to learning,” remarked Andy Parker, principal at Bay High School. “But we’re also pleased because this event brought together parents, teachers and students in a fun, collaborative experience that helps build spirit and pride in Bay High School. We’re very grateful to all the sponsors and volunteers who made this event such a success.”
At Hancock Elementary School over 125 volunteers painted a single wall in each of 36 classrooms with a wide variety of festive colors chosen by teachers from Valspar’s extensive catalog. Colors included such creative names as Guacamole, Purpilicious, Oh So Red and Deep Blue Sea. Spirits were high among teachers and parents. |
 |
“I was just overwhelmed by the outpouring of enthusiasm and support from our teachers, parents, students and sponsors,” remarked Jenny Seymour, incoming principal at South Hancock Elementary. “These bright colors will help create a happy, welcoming environment for our students. The Community Day has been a great way to start our school year on a positive, upbeat note.” |
“It was an amazing, upbeat experience,” said Joy Richardson, first-grade teacher at South Hancock. “We were all so happy to be together. Everyone stayed until the very end; no one left early!”
Volunteers were rewarded for their efforts with an event t-shirt and lunch. |
| Waveland Lowe’s played a major part in helping secure the paint and supplies needed for the event.
Store Manager, Mark Tortomasi was able to convince Valspar, Olympic Paints and Wooster to supply much of the materials.
Lowe’s supplemented these supplies with donations of their own. Several employees of Lowe’s were also present at the event painting walls and cleaning brushes. |
|
“It was very exciting to get our associates and vendors involved in a Lowe’s Hero’s Project,” commented Mark Tortomasi, “especially when it makes such positive impact on students returning to school.”
Other event sponsors included: Compton Engineering, Ad-Lib Communications, Coca-Cola, Moran Maintenance, the City of Bay St. Louis and South Hancock Elementary PTO. Parents from both schools played a vital role as well, donating and preparing food and helping to organize the event.
Of the more than 100 gallons of paint applied that day by over 200 people wielding 100 brushes and 70 rollers there was not a single major spill at either campus.
“Now, that’s just providential,” mused one volunteer. “I think Community Day was just meant to happen!” |
|
|
