Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The Gulf Shores’s school system is starting what leaders hope will become an annual event when students and employees of the system participate in “Gulf Shores Gives Back” day on March 14.

“I’m excited to be here tonight to tell you about an opportunity our school system is taking to serve this Gulf Shores community,” Superintendent Matt Akin said. “I’m here to talk about Gulf Shores Gives Back which is a service project that as a school system began discussing last spring with our mental health advisory committee along with principals in the district. This community-wide school sponsor day of service is going to take place soon. It will place on March 14th, which is a Thursday. If it rains, we’re going to move it to the 15th.”

Akin said the event will include all teachers, students, support staff and administrators.

“We’ve got a lot of board members here tonight and it’s one of the first things we did was work on our core values, what we stand for,” Akin said. “Gulf Shores Gives Back is a direct reflection on our core values such as fostering, inclusive and engaging members of our community. It’s also engaging the Gulf Shores community and the educational experience and so we hope to make this an annual event.”

The community can be involved in a variety of ways. Those wishing to participate can sign up on the school board website and those needing help around the house can sign up to receive help during the day. Click on this link to volunteer or sponsor a Gulf Shores City Schools service project on March 14.

“For example, the churches that we partnered with they created a website or a link where people in the community can ask for help,” Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Harrison said. “Maybe there’s an elderly resident who maybe needs their fence repaired or their lawn mown. There are opportunities for community members to join in that day as well and to help with needs like that.”

Dale Jernigan and Kelly Walker are the two board members highly involved in setting up this project and Jernigan said she was encouraged by the community and city response.

“This is a big deal,” Jernigan said. “But on a personal note, I just wanted to share in being meetings with all the people involved in the planning of this. I have been so overwhelmed with the amount of interest and caring and ‘what can I do?’ and ‘how much can I do’ and ‘when do I do it?’ I just want to share that with you because I see this talking to the people involved.

 The day will start with a pep rally at the middle school field and involve a variety of projects.

“Students will be doing things like cleaning up parks, painting fences at parks, making meals for people in need,” Harrison said. “But everyone in the community is invited to join us that day.”