By Jim Johnson
Lebanon — More than 200 people showed up Saturday morning to work on projects throughout Lebanon to make the city look more presentable — an event organized by the Greater Lebanon Community Vision Committee.
Church groups and organizations worked on projects throughout town. What was more impressive, was the amount kids who showed up and showed interest in the cause.
Lebanon Student Council members, Key Club members, baseball, softball, and football players were all there to help clean up the Lebanon landscape.
“Giving up a Saturday morning is hard for kids sometimes,” Lebanon superintendent Dr. Bob Taylor said. “This is what defines a lot of what Lebanon schools are about.”
CVC member Audra Poe said there were kids of all ages ranging from kindergarteners to seniors in high school.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable,” Poe said. “We had a great commitment from all kids. The high school had a great showing.”
Many of the Lebanon football players worked along the railroad tracks that cross Indiana 32 in Lebanon. Lebanon coach Kent Wright has pushed for his players to be more involved in the community. Saturday’s city cleanup is just the most opportunity in the many projects the football team participates in.
“I think it’s good for the kids to get out and realize what it is to be a good citizen and what it is to help out your community,” Wright said. “The best thing is to help out other people.”
Wright said there were 30 football players working with the CVC clean-up project while another 17 players were working the yard sale put on as a fundraiser for the football program.
CVC member and Boone County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Wiltermood said they plan isn’t for the cleanup project to be a one day event, but to become a project that is ongoing.
“That’s an idea that’s been tossed around,” Poe said. “We know it will be an annual event.”
