Showcase FAIRMONT PROVIDES PLAYGROUND SURFACE FOR HOPE

BY OTHA BRITTON

When the Kiwanis Club of Fairmont was bequeathed a $5,000 donation from someone who was not a Kiwanian but who knew of the excellent community service work of Kiwanis, the club immediately knew what to do.

The club decided that the funds should be spent improving the playground at the Fairmont facility of HOPE Inc., which provides support and shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Although the facility already had good playground equipment, the surface was hard dirt and inappropriate for a playground for young children. A total of $6,800 of materials was required for the new surface project, so an additional $1,800 was needed.

One Kiwanis member, who is also on the board of directors of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC), recommended that a grant proposal be written to that board. Club member Ray Richardson developed the proposal and MCPARC agreed to provide the funds. With the money in hand, HOPE purchased 85 tons of pea gravel and the retaining border for the project, and MCPARC agreed to provide the equipment and labor needed to install the new materials. This meant no cost to HOPE or the club.

After a few months of planning and getting the materials delivered, HOPE saw the completion of the project as several workers from MCPARC finished the installation. This project was made possible by the cooperative effort of the Kiwanis club, HOPE, and MCPARC – a great example of the community working together to improve the lives of children.

HOPE staff member Dawn Biafore said, “This is just something we’d never been able to do on our own and to have the community support us that way is just wonderful.”

Fairmont Kiwanian Richardson, a past governor of the West Virginia District, obtained a sign to hang on the fence which surrounds the playground, and the dedication of the new playground surface was recently held.