Two dozen volunteers painted their hearts out Saturday, November 22, at King/Chavez School on 31st Street in San Diego. The workday was phase one of a project that's part of the 12th Annual Toys for Joy campaign, in which the low-income school is getting fresh paint, bright wall murals, and landscaping.
Volunteers including men, women, and kids, came from the Rock Security Ministry, Men of the Rock, and participants from last spring's Miles Ahead mission trip to Jamaica . In addition, local contractor Steve Snead came with a couple of his workers.
Led by Michael Heikkinen of
RadianceSanDiego.org, a Christian arts ministry, the mural crew applied
base paint in preparation for at least four murals. Dave Bilodeau, who
was director of community projects at schools during the Jamaica trip,
also directed. Then they traced designs contributed by King/Chavez
School children.
Francisco Contreras, a teacher at King/Chavez, talked about how excited and blessed the parents and teachers are with the generosity of the Rock Church volunteers. �The kids know the benefits and how this is affecting their lives. The kids know!� said Contreras.
The Second PhaseThe second phase is scheduled for December 6. That's when the murals will be painted. �Since they're already be traced out the volunteers will come at it like a coloring book,� Heikkinen said.
Through Toys for Joy, the Rock Church, along with other individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations, are reaching out to impact the lives of underprivileged children at this special time of year.