On Saturday, Aug. 20, approximately 150 volunteers converged on Whitson Elementary School to give it a massive facelift before the start of the new school year.
Organized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in partnership with the Whitson PTO and principal Vicki Prendergast, the event was part of the Church's worldwide Day of Service.
Latter-day Saint volunteers from congregations in White Salmon, Hood River, and Stevenson worked alongside Whitson parents, staff members, students, and their families as well as Columbia High School students and other community members who just came to serve.
As volunteers arrived at the school early Saturday morning, they were put to work sanding the metal railings under windows; painting followed on those rails and play structures on the south playground. Inside, painters worked to give new colors to seven classrooms, the staff room, and several offices.
Another crew worked to weed and clean up gardens and landscaping around the school building. Benches pre-built by volunteers were installed on the north playground. The sandbox was sifted of debris and a new cover installed to protect it when not in use. Outdoor picnic tables were stained and stenciled with colorful images.
Markers for a measured walking path were embedded in the grass and stenciled with distances. A section of the parking lot was cleared of weeds and terraced with timbers and new gravel.
Most visibly, the formerly pink panels above classroom windows were painted a dark red to match the building's trim.
Volunteer Yesenia Lemmon, a third-grader at Whitson, was "happy" to see so many people coming to help at her school. "I painted the railings around the vegetable gardens." She thinks that "the other kids will be excited about the different colors on the playground."
David Goodrich, a new fifth-grader at Henkle, said, "It felt good to know that that many people care about our school all around the community and other communities that are around us."
Tarina Holloway of Hood River, one of the project coordinators from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said "It was an amazingly rewarding day! To see people come from Stevenson, Hood River, and White Salmon from various churches, organizations and communities for one combined day of service for the school was very touching. Our oldest participant was 90 and the youngest was 5. The school looks beautiful, and I was thrilled to be a part of it and work side by side with so many people willing to give so much!"
Holloway and Jamie Webster, also of Hood River, headed the project coordination and devoted many hours over several months to making sure the equipment, materials, and volunteers were ready and in place Saturday morning.
Owing to successful fundraising over the last few years, particularly the annual Silent Auction, the PTO pledged $10,000 for supplies.
Aimee McCall's reason for participating was "twofold." As a Whitson parent and member of the LDS congregation in White Salmon, McCall said, "I wanted an opportunity to give back to my school. It's not just my children's school, it was my elementary school. It was a meaningful way to be able to give back to our school as a family, to have our children help us and work together. Working side-by-side with our children is a great way to grow as a family."
September 2011 marks the second year that thousands of Latter-day Saint volunteers in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, British Columbia and northern Idaho will participate in such a Day of Service. The project at Whitson was completed in August so the school could be ready to greet students on the first day of classes on Aug. 31.
Latter-day Saints in the Columbia Gorge have been holding their own area-wide service projects for three years now. In 2009 they moved furniture and removed old carpeting at Chenowith Elementary School in The Dalles in preparation for new flooring to be installed and helped install the Frisbee golf course at Sorosis Park. In 2010 they provided security and parking assistance at WAAAM's annual fly-in event in Hood River.
For 2011's Day of Service, Thaynan Knowlton, regional Church president, wanted to select a project in Washington. Jillaire McMillan, a Whitson PTO mother and Latter-day Saint, helped bring the two groups together.
Knowlton was pleased with the success of Saturday's project. "When my family and I arrived at Whitson Elementary, we were surprised at the size and scope of the work that needed to be done. People were painting, weeding, staining, digging, planting, sanding, and cleaning. It was great to see so many people involved. The enthusiasm for this project was so high even though there was much to be done. We are grateful that the White Salmon school district, PTO, local churches, volunteers and other organizations allowed us to be a part of a great day! We were happy to be involved and look forward to a future when we will have the opportunity to serve again."
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