Gayle Owens, Community Outreach Coordinator for Little Rock Parks and Recreation, telephoned. I would know her lovable, Southern drawl anywhere. I also knew that she usually called about community business and when she had big jobs, she called us first. Little Rock Job Corps has the metal Gayle likes. Usually, we come enforce, well organized and willing to work hard at whatever. However, this time she called me for a friend. Sherrie Shinn is the Therapeutic Arts Coordinator for the Little Rock office of Parks and Recreation.

Ms. Shinn needed a lot of volunteers and she needed them in a hurry. There was an Arts Festival happening and it was happening fast. In fact, our students attended a Job Fair the week before in the same building. However, this Arts Fest was different, it was special. These young people, were people with special needs. Ms. Shinn, needed people in a hurry to supervise

“Hands-on art activities such as Foam projects, Climbing Wall, Beaded necklaces/bracelets, Face Painting, Dance Contest, Sand Art and much more.”

 Oh, did I mention Facility Maintenance? You know trash, spills (did I mention there were animals there? Don’t ask…). The temperature that day was around 90 degrees with humidity. However students weren’t the only one’s pushing through the scorching heat, a number of staff members volunteered their service as well.

The smiles of the children and their parents, the praise of other volunteer organizations as well as those from Parks and Recreation, left a lasting impression on the community. Our students come to work with pride and dedication of service to “their community”  in which they live and  strive to serve, all.