SitemapEarly Friday, Dorothy Smith, 65, site coordinator
for a special painting and landscaping project at 702 E. Lucius Ave., gave out
water, juice and apples to children walking to Taft Elementary School on the
city’s South Side.
The house and yard behind her were going through
major physical changes for Operation Paint Brush. The lot is easy to see for
those walking to Taft every day.
“We were greeting the children walking to Taft
school, letting them know that they can help. They see us out here caring, and we
let them know they can help take care of their neighborhood,” Smith said. She
encouraged the children to come back and volunteer today with Operation Paint
Brush on its second day of work.
Operation Paint Brush is a two-day project focused
on four city locations: East Lucius, 530 Catalina Ave. (North Side), 92 Eliot
Lane (East Side), and 2006 Thurber Lane (West Side).
The project is organized by Jon Howell, 54, a
Bloomington, Ill., resident and Youngstown native, with his partner and wife,
Adrienne, 54. The Howells began contacting local organizations and businesses
with the Operation Paint Brush blueprints after the couple discussed how they
could increase the quality of life in Youngstown.
The answer was simple to the Howells – improving
housing.
Jon Howell believes newly painted houses, newly
planted flowers and cleaned yards would make the neighborhoods feel more
aesthetically pleasing.
“Practical and simple projects like Operation
Paint Brush do just that,” he said. “The north location is owned by a
92-year-old man who can no longer work on the paint job of the home or afford
it. It costs probably about $5,000 to paint a home.”
Smith and Mrs. Howell were pleased to see the
operation inspire the volunteers as they expanded their work space, cleaning
other yards around the house.
The coalition of Operation Paint Brush has been
backed by a multitude of different organizations: from other area nonprofits,
to the Youngstown Police and Fire departments, to independent businesses
looking to give back to the community.
Restaurants also are involved. Chick-fil-A plans
to drop off box lunches during today’s workday.
“I was excited when Jon reached out to me about
the project. I am excited to help beautify the city, and the work is going
well,” said Mike Gibson, 29, owner of Gibson Works Property Art LLC. He spent
Friday tilling the ground in front of the newly painted forest-green home for a
delivery of bushes and flowers.
Another volunteer, Dave Cook, 48, a city
firefighter, grew up down the street. He attended Taft, and said he enjoys
doing some good for his city.
There were about 10 to 15 volunteers at the East
Lucius home, including Jonathan Bentley, 36, director of the city’s Human
Relations office, who spent the day cleaning up the yard.
“I have been volunteering since I was about 15
years old. I was born and raised in Youngstown. This volunteer day is important
because, like other volunteer projects I have been a part of, it is important
to give back to the community,” Bentley said.
To read the full story from the Vindicator, click
here.