Dad Brigade brings hundreds to improve schools [PHOTOS]
Early Saturday morning, nearly 400 men gathered at the Riverchase Home Depot for the first Hoover City Dad Brigade event. They worked until 1 p.m. on projects to improve every Hoover elementary school before students return to the classroom.
Projects at the various schools included pressure washing sidewalks, painting, planting flowers, building picnic tables and bookshelves, picking up trash, sanitizing playgrounds and various repairs. Riverchase Elementary had an additional project to build a board for its outdoor classroom.
"This project provides the opportunity for parental involvement in a new and innovative way. Additionally, RES has the support of former students and community members who do not have children at RES for this day. Everyone is pitching in to get this school year started," Riverchase Principal Alice Turney said.
Board of Education President Derrick Murphy, who started Hoover City Dad Brigade, said around 70 of the volunteers on Saturday were students. The event was a chance for fathers and young men involved to improve their local schools and get to know one another.
"The whole idea was to unite our entire city school system," Murphy said the morning of the Dad Brigade event. "I'm just excited that our school system came together for this large event. It's a remarkable thing that represents the community."
Rocky Ridge Elementary Principal Dilhani Uswatte was on hand for the projects at her school.
"The work they have done is exceptional. I'm so excited for our children to see how beautiful our school looks," Uswatte said.
"It's a great opportunity for the dads to get involved with the school system, to help out and volunteer their time to do the cleanup projects that teachers need and principals want to help out," agreed Steven Casey, one of the volunteers at Riverchase Elementary.
Murphy said he plans to recognize all the volunteers at the September Board of Education meeting, and more Dad Brigade events will happen in the future.