PHOTOS: ‘City Serve’ Spruces Up Edgewater Elementary

A volunteer team from Riva Trace Baptist Church’s “City Serve” community outreach program helped give a makeover last weekend.

Jean and Bill Borduin helped in the effort at the local elementary school and along with 350 other members of church, went out into the community to serve others.

“The school is filled with so many special people who give. Education involves time and talent, serious professional training and lots of care,” Jean Borduin told Patch. “City Serve provides the opportunity for volunteers to offer hands on appreciation.”

Borduin cited Psalm 9:18 as to why the church wanted to help spruce up Edgewater Elementary, one of the oldest schools in the county.

“We are simply at our best when we are serving others. Psalm 9:18 says ‘But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish,” Borduin said.

The City Serve team accomplished about 26 projects last weekend, many of which were in the Shady Side area, Borduin said.

The community outreach team revamped the local school with new mulch, creating a butterfly garden and painting an elaborate mural in the hallway,  has partnered with  for four years.

“[] comes annually in the spring to do projects. One year, they completely redid the faculty lounge, landscape the grounds with mulch and plantings and other amazing projects,” said Jenny Corkill, PTA president at Edgewater Elementary. “During the holidays, they also help families in need at our school.”

Corkill wanted to express her gratitude towards those who helped the renovation effort possible. 

“People are so kind and giving. It’s nice to hear about the wonderful things that people do for each other,” Corkill said. “Let’s hope it is contagious.”