Young volunteers take pride in their community

Ninth grade students at Riverside Junior High School volunteered for a community project of painting and cleaning up on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 11 and 12.

Riverside ninth grade civics students of Jeff Clem and FACS students of Tracey Haas joined forces painting playground equipment and the bandstand at the city park, the Caraway senior citizen center, and worked on main street at the mini-park area.

It started as an idea and turned into a project.

Mrs. Haas was talking to junior high principal Matt Scarbrough about students being involved in a community project.

Mrs. Haas and her husband, Craighead County Judge Dale Haas, were walking one morning when she noticed the Caraway Senior Citizen building was in need of paint.

"I mentioned it to Dale and he said he would look at the county budget to see if any funds were available," she said. "We received $750 from the county for materials and the students volunteered their manpower."

Haas said the city and school officials were all behind them.

"We had 30 volunteers on Tuesday and 31 on Wednesday," she said. "They did a great job and worked hard. We are proud of them."

Senior citizens expressed their appreciation to the young people by serving them a hot dog lunch on Wednesday at the end of the two day project.

"There is nothing better than seeing young kids take pride in their community," Caraway Mayor Barry Riley said. "They have done a great job and they should be proud of themselves. I, and the city council, appreciate the school for doing this."

"We would like to make this an annual project giving the students the opportunity to help in the community," Haas said.