Compton Elementary To Receive 'Makeover'

Nearly 2,000 volunteers are needed to help with a variety of upcoming service projects in northwest metro Atlanta, including one at .

Two Powder Springs churches,  and , have already signed up for this year's annual Community Makeover on July 21-24.

In Powder Springs, volunteers are needed to help with yardwork and minor home improvements for five of the city's homeowners.

Also, between 70 and 80 people are needed that Friday through Sunday to beautify and landscape Compton. The hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 22 and 23, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 24. Free childcare will be provided in the gym for children up to age 7.

Older children are invited to help their parents on this project. Meals, drinks and snacks also will be provided for a $2 donation per person for each day. 

Punch list items for Compton include:

• Interior wall and door painting
• Painting of murals in cafeteria
• Painting paw prints on the sidewalk
• Reorganizing and stocking the school's Clothes Closet
• Powerwashing
• Gathering and organizing supplies for the clinic
• Creating "treasure boxes" for 40 classrooms
• Making “Welcome Back” baskets for 60 teachers
• Pruning hedges, cleaning up flowerbeds, planting flowers and spreading mulch

Donations requested:

• Treasure box items, such as children's toys from fast-food restaurants
• New items for teacher "Welcome Back" baskets
• Gently used elementary-age clothes for the Clothes Closet
• Any red/black decorative items to beautify the teacher's lounge and bathrooms.

Jennifer Gilcrease of A Fresh Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides backpacks, clothing, school supplies and toiletries to needy children in Cobb and Paulding counties, is the project leader. She can be reached at 404-201-0319 or waverly@afreshhope.com.

Go here to see projects that need your help, "and then register to love your neighbor and engage your community," said Paul Richardson, director of the sponsoring organization, Engage Atlanta.

"Join us in this outpouring of God's love and kindness and help make an eternal difference in metro Atlanta," he added.

Already, around 100 churches from Paulding, Cobb, Polk, Fulton and Douglas counties are involved.

At the conclusion of that weekend, a night of celebration is planned for 7 p.m. on July 24 outside the Paulding County Courthouse on U.S. 278 in Dallas.

"This year will feature participation on two Habitat for Humanity builds, projects with schools and countless projects serving people with acts of kindness all over Atlanta," Richardson said.

"Don't sit on the sidelines but play an active part in engaging metro Atlanta with the love of Jesus Christ," said Richardson, who also serves as the outreach missions pastor for  at 3522 Hiram-Acworth Highway in Dallas.

"Wherever you are and whatever your schedule, you can get signed up for this summer's Community Makeover by visiting this link. Whether you serve for an hour or a day or more, don't miss this opportunity to engage your neighbor with the love of Jesus Christ," he said
 
Throughout this month, backpacks and school supplies are being collected at the West Ridge Church atrium for school children, Richardson said.

"If you don't know what to buy or are short on time, you can visit the World Cafe on Sunday mornings at West Ridge and sponsor a backpack filled with supplies for $20," he added.

Business leaders are encouraged to involve more of their employees by adopting a project or becoming a Community Makeover sponsor.

To "like" the Community Makeover Facebook page, click here. Pictures and stories of projects may be posted on this page, and your Facebook friends can be invited to join a project team.

This year, a unique T-shirt has been designed for Community Makeover. The shirt comes from Sababu Conscious Clothing and has a special number on the tag.

"You can visit the Sababu website, enter the number and find out who made your shirt," Richardson said.

The shirts provide a micro-finance opportunity in the country of Mali. 

"If you have participated in Community Makeover before and need to refresh a well-worn Community Makeover T-shirt, we are making those available at our cost," Richardson said. "Grab another, get it messy and wear it out."