Being a part of a community means that help may sometimes present itself in unexpected ways.
William and Kim Cookson of Salina, Kansas, found this out firsthand when forty college students from the nearby Salina Area Technical College showed up to paint their house.
William had started the long process of repainting his house himself, but before he could finish the job he found out he was due to be deployed to Kuwait with his Kansas Army National Guard unit.
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Word got back to members of their community, and soon the Military Affairs Council at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce stepped in and asked the college for help.
Of the forty students enrolled in the Diesel program, not a single one hesitated to volunteer their time to show their appreciation for all that our active military members do to keep us safe and ensure our freedoms.
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As student worker Austin Workman stated, “We’ve got young men and women out there, giving up their freedom and their time to take care of our rights,” he said. “This is our way of giving back.”
Mike Parker, an instructor at the college, said he was very pleased, but not surprised, that all that 40 students in their program offered to help paint. “We’re just trying to come out here and help somebody in the community that needs help,” he told KAKE reporter Chris Frank.
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When local Selina businesses heard about the painting project, many of them chipped in to pay for paint, supplies, and lunch for the workers.
Stephani Johns-Hines, Vice President of Instruction, pitched in herself that day, working alongside the students to teach them to always give back to their community. She said acts of kindness like this one fit in with the college’s goal to prepare them for life after school.
“We want them to have professional skills, soft skills, time management skills, but also to become contributing members of society in community engagement ways,” Stephani said.
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“Not a lot of us college students got a lot of money,” Austin said, “but we do have a lot of time. So, this is the easiest way and the most thoughtful way of giving back.”
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