OT: Volunteer to Build a Playground in Flint 7/27
Hello MGoBloggers! The nonprofit I work for is looking for additional volunteers to help build a playground in Flint next Friday, July 27. KaBOOM! is a national nonprofit that works with cities and child-centered nonprofits to help create places for kids to play. Each year we build 130+ playgrounds, each designed by the kids who will use them and built in one day with 200 volunteers. You can learn more about KaBOOM! at kaboom.org.
Next Friday we are building a playground at Richfield Public School Academy (3807 Center Rd, Flint, MI 48506) and we need a few more volunteers if you have the day available and want to do something awesome with your time. Our projects start at 8:30 AM with an empty lot and end at 2:30 PM with a completed playground. We have work for all levels of skill and physical ability. Because it is a construction site, closed-toe shoes are required and clothes you don't mind getting dirty are advisable. We build rain or shine. Breakfast, lunch, beverages and a volunteer shirt will be provided.
You can sign up online in advance (https://www.tfaforms.com/4680681) or just come on Friday morning to register. Come at 8:00 AM so you can grab breakfast before we get started. If you have any questions, you can email me sarah @ kaboom.org.
PS: This is my first post on the new site so hopefully the link works and the formatting isn't crazy.
True story - I grew up in the neighborhood directly behind this school and once it was built, and the playground was literally 2 ft. from our backyard, we moved.
Awesome! (That you know the school, not that you moved after the original playground was installed. That sucks.)
Wow - sorry that you were involved in a rotten project previously and it clearly left you pretty burned. Just to be clear, though, when you say your experience was 'likely' not with the same group, I'm going to go ahead and say definitely not based on your description. My organization is 22 years old, has literally built thousands of playgrounds across North America in that time, and has a stellar reputation that we work hard to earn and uphold. We're a four star impact charity on Charity Navigator and have earned numerous awards for our impact in communities and strong financial management. We carefully screen every group that we work with to ensure they understand the commitment they are making to the project and what their obligations are. You should take a few minutes to visit the website I included in the OP to learn more about us. Or better yet, come out on July 27 and see it for yourself.
We work really hard to make an impact in the lives of children who get very few opportunities to experience 'normal' childhoods. It's a shame that whatever happened to you previously has left you so cynical that you would feel compelled to post that kind of reply to a positive request for volunteers to build a playground for kids in Flint. If you ever want to come out to one of our projects, though, let me know!