cleaning tips and tools: ServErie volunteers clean and beautify the United Way of Erie County Community Schools

6.21.2024

ServErie volunteers clean and beautify the United Way of Erie County Community Schools

More than 200 volunteers helped clean and beautify eight community schools in Erie County on Thursday and Friday during their 2024 Summer Project.

Beckett Caplan, 13, helped paint geometric patterns on the walls at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Erie and enjoyed her time as a volunteer.

"I think it's great," Caplan said of the work. "I enjoy working in groups to improve things."

Across the city, volunteers at Grover Cleveland Elementary School painted thousands of multi-colored handprints from student art projects from previous years. Volunteers worked in the hallways and stairs, painting red, yellow, blue and green handprints in deep red.

Jamie Travis (left), ServErie site manager at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, cleans the girls' restroom at the Erie school on Friday. Beckett Caplan, 13, right, has already helped paint the graphic on the wall.

At Iroquois Elementary School, volunteers helped maintenance staff deep clean tables and chairs, while classroom supplies were emptied and walls and floors washed.

Addy Tyree, 15, helps paint a hallway at Elk Valley Elementary School with other ServErie volunteers in Lake City on Friday. More than 200 volunteers spent two days painting, cleaning and landscaping at eight different schools in the United Way community to assist school staff with their projects.

Volunteer Ryan Humphreys, 18, cleaned a whiteboard as he described his plan in August to study nuclear propulsion in the U.S. Navy after graduating from Harbor Creek High School this year.

"I'm excited to start a new chapter in my life," said Humphreys. "I try to do what I can for the community while I'm here."