by Ashley Hackett, corps member serving on the Foundation to be Named Later/John W. Henry Family Foundation Boston Civic Engagement Team
What do you get when you combine three fantastic City Year teams, wonderful and hardworking sponsors/volunteers, and a school in much need of a calming space for its children to work? Well, a successful service day, of course! On Saturday, March 12, the MFS Team played host to the PTC/National Grid Blackstone Elementary School Team as well as the Foundations Civic Engagement team at their very own Haley Elementary School service day. With the help of 30 volunteers from PTC and National Grid, this service day went off without hitch, leaving behind an inspirational yet soothing space for the children to learn.
The day’s projects included patching a once crumbling wall then painting it new, peaceful colors, painting a mural of a map of the city of Boston and another mural of motivational and uplifting words as well as making birdhouses – many built and painted by the youngest volunteers – to be hung throughout the schoolyard. The day was also made very special by PTC’s charitable contribution of a delicious pizza lunch to help keep hungry volunteers going until the very end.
All and all, the day was immeasurably successful and was greatly appreciated by the Haley team, faculty, and students. A special thanks to guest speakers, Bill Berutti and Ms. Gaskin, for their inspiring and encouraging words on behalf of PTC and the Haley Elementary School.
