Faith Christian School will kick off its 9th year serving the community of Roanoke with its annual service project and fundraiser, Project Faith, on April 30th.
Over the past eight years, Faith Christian School students, faculty and parent volunteers have donated over 10,000 hours of service to this community, benefitting the Salvation Army, the Rescue Mission, the Roanoke Greenways Commission, the US Park Service, and others.
This year on Friday, April 30th, nearly 500 volunteers will work at four different locations. Kindergarten students through grade two will work on Mill Mountain mulching the trail from the Discovery Center to the Zoo, and will work with the Mill Mountain Garden Club on the Wildflower Garden. The two and a half acre Wildflower Garden was established in 1975 and is a recipient of the Commonwealth Award given by the Garden Club of Virginia.
Students in grades three through five will be working in conjunction with the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the US Park Service at the Roanoke Mountain Campground. Volunteers will be clearing and preparing 110 camp sites before its opening the following week, which US Park Service official, Allen Lawson, states, “[these jobs] simply may not get done otherwise. This work is such a blessing to us. With most of my employees still working on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, I don’t have the full work force to dedicate to getting the campground ready for opening.”
Grade six and grade eight students will be traveling across town to work at the Blue Ridge Women’s Center on Williamson Road. They will be landscaping, cleaning, organizing clothing, and helping the organization prepare for an upcoming fundraiser. BRWC Executive Director Phil Holsinger, said “We are so excited to have students from FCS help out the center to help make it more inviting to our clients.”
Students in grades seven and nine through twelve will be working at the YWCA womens’ and childrens’ center in downtown Roanoke. Volunteers will be painting, cleaning, setting up a new room, painting a mural and setting up a children’s area. Melissa Woodson, YWCA Executive Director shares, “It impresses me that a private Christian based school is stepping up to take care of our shelter in a BIG way. You represent the future for our country and every single action of civic duty is a blessing to the whole of your community.”
The fundraising goal for this project is $150,000. Less than two weeks out, students have already raised over $117,000. If the goal is met, the students will have a party to celebrate and there will be other incentives, such as the Headmaster, Sam Cox, having his head shaved. “I look forward to this event every year,” shares Cox, “it is a win-win situation with the School raising much-needed funding, and our students getting their hands dirty and working hard for the betterment of our community.”
For more information on this event and on Faith Christian School, please visit the website at www.faithchristian-school.com.
By Susan Childs [email protected]