Photos – 2015 MLK Service Project
Charles Absher seals a window in Buelah Rosser's bathroom during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Charles Absher seals a window in Buelah Rosser’s bathroom during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
The 13th annual MLK Service Project is the most ambitious yet.
This weekend hundreds of volunteers are visiting 31 homes. Organizers had to rent a record 1,300 tools, Service Project Chairman Paul Mitchell said.
On Sunday afternoon, Mitchell climbed the tall ladder in The Solarium in Oakhurst and began making assignments.
“We’re all here to help Dr. Martin Luther King fulfill his legacy,” Mitchell told the room, packed shoulder to shoulder with volunteers.
Mitchell and City of Decatur Lifelong Community Coordinator Lee Ann Harvey said that organizers streamlined the assignment process last year, making coordination of assignments much smoother. Everything was humming along as volunteers showed up for their Sunday shift, got their instructions and headed to their destinations.
Harvey said this year 500 bags of yard waste removed from the yards are being delivered to the Oakhurst Dog Park for use in an erosion control project. The service project’s reach can be felt within and around the community, she said.
“That’s a neat little partnership and it shows how many rippling implications there are with it,” Harvey said.
Decaturish contributor Jonathan Phillips visited some of the homes on the MLK Service Project’s list and sent us these photos.
Jordan Baxter (left) and Steve Bishop prep a piece of trim as they volunteer during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. The 13th annual event saw over 1,000 people volunteer their time and skill to helping make repairs on 31 senior homes around the city. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Quinn Eastman uses a saw to cut a piece of wood during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Buelah Rosser puts a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets in her home as volunteers help to make repairs during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Ashley Lytle seals roof shingles during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Dust flies everywhere as Phil Houck helps install a new handicap accessible shower in Inez Baughns home during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Maketa Colbert (right) and Andrea Parker clean up Annie Harper’s back yard during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Sheena Martin puts a fresh coat of paint on Annie Harper’s porch steps during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Tiffany White puts a fresh coat of paint on Annie Harper’s dining room walls during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Sre Yeddula (left) and Alex Dulisse seal the duct work in Eli Dodson’s basement during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Decatur Police Sgt. Jennifer Ross (left) talks with Eli Dodson as she and other volunteers make repairs to his home during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Paul Mitchell (center) talks with his volunteers before they head out to start working during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Ronnie Williams pulls out buckets of tools that will be used to make repairs during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Ronnie Williams unloads wheelbarrows full of tools that will be used to make repairs during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips
Christopher Lewis (left), Tasalinah Andralliski, Tiana Lewis and Teaheerah Andralliski make nametags before heading out to volunteer during the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project weekend on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Phillips