United Way Day of Action draws 200 volunteers for heavy lifting at FSSD schools
The United Way Day of Action is an annual global call to action held on the first day of summer to unite volunteers to address community challenges.
United Way Day of Action draws 200 volunteers for heavy lifting at FSSD schools The United Way Day of Action is an annual global call to action held on the first day of summer to unite volunteers to address community challenges. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/franklin/2019/06/21/united-way-day-action-draws-200-volunteers-help-franklin-special-school-district-schools/1528808001/
Kerri Bartlett, Nashville Tennessean Published 5:30 p.m. CT June 21, 2019 | Updated 6:34 p.m. CT June 21, 2019
Lane Chesler, an intern at Tractor Supply Co., stands by the trailer that she helped to pack at Poplar Grove School on June 21, 2019. (Photo: Kerri Bartlett/The Tennessean)
In partnership with the United Way of Williamson County, about 200 volunteers put in heavy-duty elbow grease Friday — a full day's worth — giving Poplar Grove elementary and middle schools and three others in Franklin Special School District a face-lift to help school staff prepare for the new school year.
As part of the global United Way Day of Action on Friday, a slew of volunteers painted, cleaned windows, hauled items and even trimmed hedges to help take the extra burden off teachers and staff.
Lane Chesler, along with a group of interns from Tractor Supply Co., worked together from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. like a well-oiled machine, loading dozens of boxes onto a trailer to haul off for storage.
"Today has been great," Chesler said. "We repainted the hallways for the seventh and eighth grades, and we have been hauling these boxes from the elementary school to Liberty Middle School for storage.
"It's nice because the classroom is the core of education, and it's important for us to minimize the work for teachers and help them create a streamlined environment for learning."
Poplar Grove Middle School Principal Chris Treadway, left, stands with the Tractor Supply Co. volunteer team, including, clockwise, Elijah Masters, Lane Chesler, Will Stroud, Jacob Ellis, Drew Hughes, Madison Hutts, Miller Merritt and Kendal Schettini. (Photo: Kerri Bartlett/The Tennessean)
Also serving as a volunteer and driver of the trailer, Poplar Grove Middle School principal Chris Treadway said the help of volunteers is invaluable to the school.
"The community support in Williamson County and Franklin is amazing. The work that is being done today would have taken weeks alone," he said.
"The teachers are always surprised at the amount of work that has been done when they return for school. Their reactions are 'Wow! How were you able to do all of that?' "
Meanwhile, a long list of other tasks was completed by dozens of other corporate volunteers in the community.
Jaime Settles of Bank of America, who carefully climbed a ladder to clean a high window in the Poplar Grove School lobby, said it felt good to help.
"I feel like it's about giving back to the community and making sure students and teachers have a good experience when they come back for the school year," he said.
Jaime Settles and Ashley Mullins of Bank of America clean the windows of the lobby at Poplar Grove School on June 21, 2019. (Photo: Kerri Bartlett/The Tennessean)
Day of Action connects volunteers to community
The United Way Day of Action is an annual global call to action held on the first day of summer — the longest day of the year — to unite volunteers to address community challenges.
Debby Rainey, UWWC vice president of strategic initiatives, said the day's success would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers from across the Williamson County community.
"We are grateful that everyone gave up their Friday to paint door frames, move furniture and complete other projects that needed attention at each of the schools," Rainey said.
"This gives volunteers the opportunity to step in to finish what the school can't do. By the end of one day, all of the projects are finished."
Volunteers from corporate partner Aetna — Mailon Ridley, left, Suzanne Sanders and Mikka Parrish, far right — and principal Alisha Erickson, second from right, complete the dusting at Poplar Grove Elementary School. (Photo: Kerri Bartlett/The Tennessean)
David Snowden, FSSD director of schools, stopped by some of the sites to encourage and thank the volunteers for their efforts.
"We are extremely appreciative of the many volunteers who participated today," Snowden said.
"Once the school year is over, the process of cleaning, painting, trimming and overall preparation of the buildings for the arrival of students, teachers and parents for the new school year begins. Our custodians, maintenance and landscaping personnel do great work, but there is just not enough time during the summer to complete all of the sprucing up tasks.
"We are so thankful for the partnership with the United Way and their assistance."
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