BB&T volunteers and the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department teamed up May 18-20 to give the Stephens-Lee Center a Spring cleaning both inside and out.
Around 50 BB&T employees participated in the company’s Lighthouse Project, in which volunteers give four or more hours of their time to community service projects across the nation.
“We felt that since the community supports us, we wanted to give support to the community,” said Wanda Sayer, BB&T Vice President and Commercial Officer. The company donated $5,400 in supplies for the effort as well. “BB&T hopes their efforts encourage others in the community to volunteer their time and support organizations like Stephens-Lee Community Center.”
Teams of volunteers mulched the center’s playground and landscaping areas at the front of the center, and repainted the main hallway and multipurpose room. Parks and Recreation staff provided support for the team, organizing materials, providing tools for the work and operating heavy equipment. The three-day effort was capped off with a cookout BB&T provided for volunteers, Stephens-Lee staff and neighbors.
“To have an organization like BB&T step up and invest their time and sweat equity makes a big difference in an important part of our community,” said Marsha Stickford, the City of Asheville’s Neighborhood/Volunteer Coordinator. “They just did a great job. It is really amazing the amount of improvement a group like this can get done.”
The Stephens-Lee Center plays a key role in the City of Asheville’s priority to provide opportunities for fitness, after school care, and learning programs for youth and adults.
This is the third year BB&T has conducted its Lighthouse Program, and Sayer said the idea to focus efforts on the Stephens-Lee Center this year came after reaching out to the City of Asheville and Mayor Terry Bellamy. “We wanted to see where the priorities were,” Sayer said. Two years ago, BB&T volunteers carried out a similar project at the Shiloh Community Center, repainting parts of the center and ball field areas and repairing bleachers and benches there.
To find out more about volunteer opportunities in the City of Asheville, contact Neighborhood/Volunteer Coordinator Marsha Stickford at (828) 259-5506 or mstickford@ashevillenc.gov.