Monday, April 28, 2008

A Beautiful Day in Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach Elementary School, Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Stop 4 of the VolunTOUR

The Sunshine State certainly lived up to its nickname during our stop in Jacksonville Beach. We arrived at Jacksonville Beach Elementary to find dozens of students, teachers, administrators and volunteers ready and waiting to beautify their school. Citi Bank of Jacksonville even let us borrow a dozen of their employees to help with the volunteer effort. Keep Jacksonville Beautiful was a terrific partner and they truly made the event special. Many thanks to Vivian, Jetta, and the many other partners that made the day so successful.

The students of Jax Beach proved to be not only well mannered and charming, but also very hard workers! We dug in with them and helped transplant a number of existing bushes and plants, removed invasive species, improved the butterfly garden and planted a number of new palm trees and bushes. By the end of the project, Jacksonville Beach Elementary was looking great, and its students were very proud of their work and their school.

We were very sad to leave such a beautiful place and caring, hospitable people, but at least we know the public lands of Jacksonville Beach are in good hands!







2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also had a great experience in Jacksonville Beach, FL working for Habitat for Humanity. Back in 200-2005 I was an AmeriCorps Direct Member and was assigned to Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West located in Covington, Louisiana. During my service one of our requirements was a trip to another affiliate to help them build and see how other operations run. Our experience there was one I will not soon forget. We were put up in a youth house one of the churches owns and built for three days. We were also fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the beach which I can see is in good hands. It is always refreshing to see folks getting involved not only in their own communities but in the communities of other s as well. Not only are these kinds of experiences great for the communities visited but they are always a way to meet people who are really into helping others which lets you know you are not alone in trying to better the world you live in. Keep up the good work!

Anonymous said...

I went there and luved it :)! My friend, Caroline in in the last(?) pic!