We all have memories of walking through our school hallways. Maybe your memory is seeing your artwork hung up, or a mural, or simply you noticed the small chips on the wall because you had to stand or sit while waiting for your next instructions. Hallways, classrooms, and offices don’t tend to themselves. Though maintenance staff are present, they are dealing with a host of other tasks. It takes a village to make our school hallways and spaces a welcoming place for students and parents. I’ve seen teachers spend days out of their free time painting murals in student bathrooms or come on a weekend to paint hallways. I’ve seen principals purchase flowers with their own money to liven up the school entrance and they would do it all over again because of the love they have for the sacred spaces of learning. It’s with this same love, that Harpeth Presbyterian Church saw a need at Franklin Elementary and wanted to help paint and beautify the school. 

We love churches who utilize their passions and skills to meet the needs of our community. If you would like to support a school with beautification projects, reach out to your school liaison and ask if this is a need. If you have not yet been connected to a school, email the Director of United4Hope, Laura.Varela@operationandrew.org to get connected with a school in Nashville, or United4Hope Program Manager, Marian.Whitney@operationandrew.org, to support a school in Franklin. 

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Harpeth Presbyterian Church Coordinator, Mary Keown, said, “Franklin Elementary School Principal, April Carrigan, was gracious to our Harpeth Presbyterian team on Saturday March 22. She met us at school and had paint awaiting our volunteers. Some in our group repainted the SRO office, others painted a classroom while still others removed weeds, overgrown and dead bushes.  We provided mulch and pansies to help the outside of the school look more polished. It was a joyful time of fellowship and service to the community.” 

We are grateful for the loyalty and consistency of Franklin Special District (FSD) partners. 

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Before we end this blog, I wanted to share a partnership opportunity for a church to support Freedom Intermediate School (FIS) in the Franklin Special District. Please read a first-hand account of the need that exists from FIS teacher, Mrs. Tisdale. 

“I wanted to let you know that we had 3 teams qualify to represent our school and the state of Tennessee at the National Invention Convention this summer (June 4-6) at the Henry Ford Museum! If you know of anyone that would like to sponsor a team to go, we are currently looking for help to cover the cost of their registration fee ($365/student) and to help me get to Nationals with them (room/flight to Dearborn, Michigan). I am reaching out to everyone I know to make the finances not stop a child from attending.” 

If you are interested in supporting students studying entrepreneurship, please reach out to me, Marian Whitney, at marian.whitney@operationandrew.org.