September 15, 2006
San Bernardino Sun

Volunteer effort produces touch up for Mentone Elementary

Mentone Elementary's first school day was the most constructive it's ever been, as more than 270 Home Depot employee volunteers from all across the Inland Empire gave the 57-year-old school its first facelift ever.

"Teachers and kids are really thrilled to have it dressed up," said Principal Jim O'N eil about the new landscaping, painted walls, murals and constructed shelves and storage cabinets for the kids. "Some of the parents that came today . . . they were just amazed at the transformation."

While the company and workers donated more than $35,000 worth of work time and materials, BEHR pitched in with $3,000 in paint and Pavestone company with $2,000 in path stones, said Steve Klein, assistant store manager for Redlands Home Depot.

"Everything is done professional," said Klein, who was team captain for the day, about the work the volunteers did. "It needed it, and it's not going to be the last time we come out."

Workers showed up throughout the day to construct walking paths, clear overgrown bushes and weeds, get rid of rocks and paint the schools logo and other art on different buildings and wooden structures. While a few select school children ran water out to quench volunteers' thirst, they got a first-hand look at the sweat and muscle going into their school's upgraded look.

"The turnout was better than expected," said Klein about high gas prices that he thought might hinder workers' decisions to volunteer. "People took a hit in pay to be here today."

Manya Wilson, human resources manager of the Pomona Home Depot, said it's rewarding to give her time and effort in helping the school's kids and to know they'll use and enjoy everything that was accomplished that day.

"It's an awesome experience to come out and refurbish the school," Wilson said. "The kids were bringing us water and thanking us for coming out."

Other workers, some staying there eight or nine hours, said they're excited about the school's new look and are willing to do it all over again in Mentone or other places.

One of these enthusiastic volunteers was Sal Ramos, loss prevention manager at the Chino Home Depot. For him, just the fact

that he was particularly helping kids made him happy, he said.

"It's giving back to the community for the kids," Ramos said about all of the improvements. "It'll give them a nicer place to come to school to increase their moral."

A big planner in the event was Jan Stephens, community resources manager for Hands on Inland Empire, the local affiliate for Inland Empire United Way. Since September is Home Depot's service month, with more than 100 volunteer projects scheduled across the nation, the organization jumped on the opportunity and pitched three different projects to the company -- sprucing up two local schools or a park.

"This one had more work to do and we needed to accomm odate more volunteers," Stephens said, while noting that Victoria Elementary was the other school. "I'm trying to get another group to do that school."

Stephens and Klein are also proud to help out at a school that won the California Distinguished School award in May, they said.

But in general, they were glad to help fulfill a long overdue project.

"Schools are always on budgets, and this one needed a lot of upgrading," Stephens said. "There were a lot of bushes, and things that weren't safe."

The moral-building value of having volunteers beautify an outside teachers area, which she described as "not enticing," is worth a lot just by itself, Stephens said.

"Of course, we want to make our teachers happy as well," she said.

For O'N eil, the school's new look is something he hopes to keep up over the years.

Back to Newsroom Main