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HomeNewsArchivesCoral Bay Council Does MLK Day of Service at Guy Benjamin School

Coral Bay Council Does MLK Day of Service at Guy Benjamin School

Jan. 19, 2009 — With shovels, brooms, elbow grease and brute strength, members of the Coral Bay Community Council and helpers Monday cleaned up the Guy Benjamin School playground for their Martin Luther King Day of Service.
"It's the best tribute we can give to Dr. King," said Community Council President Sharon Coldren.
She expected 20 or 30 people to show up by the time the day was over. The school's principal, Dionne Wells, was delighted to have the help.
"We always appreciate the community getting together to help the school," she said.
Wells encourages Coral Bay residents to stay involved with the school. Her daughter, Kiana Athanase, 11, was also on hand "to help make the school better."
One Coral Bay area resident, Jean Rayne, has volunteered at the school for 13 years. She was on hand to help with the broom chores on the Day of Service.
"I feel very committed to the school," she said.
Bonny Corbeil, who helped as best she could despite a broken arm, called on everyone to step up when it comes to community service.
"Find something you care about and do something," she said.
If people are at a loss as to where to volunteer, Corbeil said, they only have to ask around to find something that suits their interests.
Some of the volunteers weren't aware that King's birthday had become a national day of service, but came out to help because they heard that the Community Council was doing a cleanup.
"I came to volunteer and be part of the community," Bert Veldman said.
This was Veldman's first foray into community service. He's on St. John only for two months a year.
Phil Jones also didn't know about the community-service day.
"We're just helping the little guys get the playground set up," he said. "Kids can always use something around the island."
Emily Lundberg, busy with a shovel, said she came out to support the school.
"It's important for young kids to be in a nice environment," she said.
And Liberty Bryer said it was important to help out where you live.
Even a tourist got involved.
"We were just driving by and someone said there's a cleanup," said Brooklyn resident Johnny Fox.
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