Two Local Schools Receive "Makeover"

Many times, when we hear the words "church and school" together in the news, the story is not a pleasant one.  But one Manayunk Church decided to serve two area public schools as one of their many ongoing service projects August 20th.  

About 70 people from Epic Church (which meets in the UA Movie Theater on Main St.) showed up at and to do a "Teachers' Lounge Makeover". Volunteers painted, cleaned, purchased and set up new furniture, and cleaned some more. 

From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. volunteers came in shifts to complete the makeover. The Cook Wissahickon project was "kid-friendly" so children came to paint (and play) so that parents could serve. 

''Teachers have had a rough year," one volunteer said, "we just want to show our appreciation for the hard work they do, in a political climate where they may feel undervalued and abused."

Cook Wissahickon Principal, Karen Thomas, said, "I am so excited to be able to give this to my teachers. You have no idea how this will boost spirits when they return in September to start preparing their classrooms for the new school year."

At Roxborough High School, Principal Steve Brandt was also excited about the project, but had the makeover done in a room that is used by parents, teachers, and students for meetings and conferences.  

"We are a church who loves to serve," Pastor Kent Jacobs said, and the history of the church seems to back up his statement. Only two years old, Epic Church attenders participate in more than 30 service projects each year, including serving dinner at homeless shelters and the Salvation Army, assisting other non profits in manual labor projects, spending time at nursing homes, and a number of "makeovers" like the one on Saturday.  

Some projects are announced church-wide, and others are initiated by their "Life Groups" which are 10-week home-based bible studies or book studies where people get to know each other and "do life" with each other.