VT volunteers team up to paint, repair daycare centers
BLACKSBURG – Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Virginia Tech students, faculty and staff members are teaming up to spruce up day care centers throughout the New River Valley.
The university’s Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships is sending out teams of volunteers to help the region’s daycare centers. The 2010 Martin Luther King Daycare Facelift Project will be Saturday, Jan. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech
“Devoting his life’s work to causes of equality and social justice, King strongly believed that children hold the country’s fate in their hands,” reads a statement from Virginia Tech.
The VT Center completed a similar project last year as well.
“Last year’s effort involved more than 250 participants, drawing together Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff along with community members,” reads the VT release. “The teams painted walls, fences, and wall murals and also carried out construction projects and landscaping.”
This year the project is focusing on the neediest daycare centers in the region, says Karen Gilbert, an assistant director with the Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships. Each team will have $100 to spend on materials and supplies based on a grant from Campus Compact and funding provided by Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech.
Last year’s project helped 17 daycare centers; this year’s target is 20 including seven Head Start centers. Daycares being served are situated throughout the New River Valley.
“Childcare has been identified by our community leaders as a key step in helping to break the cycle of poverty,” Gilbert said.
Area churches will be providing lunch for every volunteer.
The Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships is part of Virginia Tech’s Outreach and International Affairs.
