Volunteers clean-up elementary school

Memphis—Dozens of teachers and  Bellevue Baptist Church members spent Saturday cleaning up Carnes Elementary School. They organized supplies for students to use for the rest of the school year and helped plant in the schools garden.

Principal Reneta Sanders can’t wait to see her 300 plus kids to file in the doors Monday.

“When they come in the school on Monday and they see the campus has been spruced up it will kind of give them a lifted experience,” said Sanders.

Not just because the volunteers cleaned up this playground so the kids can shoot hoops during recess.

Sanders believes the work done this weekend will show her students what it means to be part of a community.

“Educations is not just about learning what you learn in books from day-to-day, but about building character,  building knowledge.  To do that you must have certain experiences in life to show you those thing, expressed Sanders.

Sanders called the church over the summer asking for help. The school was one in about 30 sites that nearly 1000 church members spent volunteered at this weekend.  

The volunteer work is part of a large mission for the church, Bellevue loves Memphis, inspired by scripture.

“It says seek the welfare of this city where I have sent you,” said Pastor, Dr. Steve Gaines. Gaines started the mission 5 years ago. His wife is a former teacher, they say working with schools is extra special for them.

“When we come and we see teachers are here as well, that shows us they have an interest as well. We want to help people like that,” said Gaines.

Sanders hopes that help will drive another lesson home for her kids.

“They have a safe place to come,” said Sanders.

Bellevue Baptist will take part in a city-wide volunteer day with dozens of churches in October.