paint_the_town

DASH for LaGrange sponsored its first Paint the Town project in July 2005 and has held the community-wide volunteer event annually since then. The project was born out of the realization that many LaGrange residents can neither physically manage nor afford routine maintenance of their homes. The premier Paint the Town event was one of the city's first community-wide, community service projects held in LaGrange.

"Paint the Town is a wonderful project for everyone," says LaGrange City Councilman and DASH Board Member Frank Cox. "It demonstrates that LaGrange residents, organizations and businesses truly believe in active community involvement."

The first year, more than 200 volunteers worked together to paint the exterior of 17 houses in Southeast LaGrange in four days as part of NeighborWorks Week. In 2006, Paint the Town was hosted by DASH for four days in June with work concentrated in the East Depot Neighborhood where more than 300 volunteers painted 22 houses.

In summer 2007, a total of 30 houses in LaGrange were painted during the Paint the Town event, bringing to 69 the total of houses treated to a fresh coat of paint, thanks to community volunteers. Events in 2008 and 2009 were equally successful. DASH for LaGrange estimates that 15,400 volunteer hours have been put into the annual event to date.

"The effort is geared to assist low-income seniors who need help in spiffing up their homes," says Cathy Smith, DASH Assistant Director. "We try to focus efforts in a targeted area each year to make the most impact. Many of the recipients desperately want to fix up their home but do not have the means to buy the paint, which DASH supplies."

Volunteers at Paint the Town events are organized into teams of at least 10 adults (ages 19 and older) or 10 youth (ages 12 to 18) and two adults. Teams must commit to seeing their appointed house completed. DASH supplies the paint while the teams are responsible for supplying their own ladders and paint brushes. All volunteer painters receive a limited edition Paint the Town T-Shirt and an invitation to a Thank You Party a few days after the week of volunteer work.

"This is a popular event for volunteer groups like Boy and Girl Scouts, churches, civic groups and even companies who sponsor their employees," says Smith. "Paint the Town brings the community together while making people aware of housing needs in LaGrange."