CLEARLAKE – Fifty-seven Personal Success Institute (PSI) Women”s Leadership volunteers spent Wednesday at Pomo Elementary School in the kindergarten play area.
Volunteers contributed their time and sweat to improving the safety of the playground.
“This was interesting. This was the smallest class and they finished a half an hour ahead of schedule and they didn”t even know what their task at-hand was going to be,” Harriet Rogers, Konocti Unified School District community coordinator said. “They really communicated well together and worked as a team. It was amazing.”
Volunteers, some with wheelbarrows, some with shovels and others with buckets in hand hauled and dispersed 22 tons of rubber chips, made from recycled tires, throughout the designated play area. Volunteers also painted the playhouse for the kindergarteners.
“The kids just loved it.
The kids were really excited this morning when they came to school. They went out there and were amazed with the bounciness of the chips. Some of them said it was like a trampoline,” Pomo Kindergarten Teacher Jennifer Barry said.
“They repainted the playhouse, too, and they painted all these wonderful characters. The kids just loved the ”Very Hungry Caterpillar” and ”Sponge Bob” was a real big hit. It really is neat and we feel really blessed.”
According to Rogers, there was a concern for safety in the kindergarten play area. The hillside had to be leveled due to erosion she said and there was an old wooden stage that was rotten that needed to be removed.
Rogers said a PSI representative called on Monday and asked if there were any projects that the volunteers could help with and by Wednesday, she said, this project was ready to go.
“PSI volunteers have been angels in our district for the past 15 years,” Rogers said. “Their commitment to our district and our students has been unending and without them we wouldn”t be able to get many of these projects done as quickly.”
PSI volunteers not only have the gratitude of the district but also of the students.
“The kindergartners are showing their appreciation and thanking the PSI volunteers by making placemats for their graduation dinner on Saturday night,” Rogers said.
“All of our projects, the students make gifts to show their gratitude.”
PSI World is a 36-year-old non-profit organization based in High Valley, Clearlake Oaks. Thousands of service projects are accomplished by PSI volunteers each year.
Opportunities for PSI World participation are available all over the world.
Youth programs are also offered. For more information visit the Web site at www.psi_world.org/.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
