Volunteers Clean Up Providence Schools Ahead of New School Year

August 23, 2019 1:46 pm

PROVIDENCE, RI (WLNE) – Dozens of volunteers showed up at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Friday morning, grabbing shovels, rakes, brooms, and gardening tools, in an effort to ‘beautify’ the exterior.

” I volunteered because it’s the city I live in and the city I love,” said volunteer Alejandro Tirador.

“I chose to volunteer at this particular school because I grew up right here on Carrington Avenue,” explained volunteer Natalie Lopes.

Volunteers were tasked with cleaning school exteriors, including gardens, playgrounds, parking lots and walkways, while professionals handled inside repairs.

“Its great seeing the community come out and support our kids,” said Providence Mayor, Jorge Elorza.

Mayor Elorza also helped out Friday morning, despite criticism from some, who question why taxpayers should be volunteering their time to do a job their tax dollars are already paying contractors to do.

“There are three aspects to it,” explained Mayor Elorza.

“The first part is the physical plan. We have a company that works on that – they do things such as put on new roofs, cracks, foundation, all of that.”

“Then there is the maintenance – making sure that it’s clean, it’s painted, etc.”

“On top of all of that,” the mayor continued, “is the work that we’re doing here today – the beautification work. There is a lot that we can do to make the sites even more beautiful and even more ready for our kids when they arrive.”

Despite the exterior help from volunteers, last week, state Education Commissioner, Angelica Infante-Green said she is still not satisfied with the interior condition of school buildings ahead of the new year.

Volunteers will be helping out again Saturday at Anthony Carnevale Elementary School and at the trio of Classical and Central High Schools and the Providence Career and Technical Academy.