The Tyler Senior Center got a makeover on Thursday thanks to special touches from a group of ninth graders from Brook Hill School.
As part of Holy Week, students at Brook Hill School in Tyler participate in a spiritual focus week called OASIS week, which means serving others instead of self.
Each weekday the school had special chapel services, culminating in a Thursday service project. For the past 20 years, during this day, students have given back to the community by participating in service projects in East Texas.
One of the many projects was volunteering at the Tyler Senior Center to enhance his outward appearance with spring flowers.
Haleigh Rozell, a student at Brook Hill School, said this was her third year attending the event and she was delighted to spruce up the senior center by gardening to give it a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors.
“We cleaned up the flowerbeds to make it more pleasant for everyone who comes here, and we planted flowers near the sign to make it more inviting and beautiful,” she said. “We are happy to help others.”
Erika Honeycutt, associate director of special events and alumni relations, participated in the school-wide service day for the first time.
“When I found out we were serving, I thought ‘what a beautiful thing.’ I just didn’t know they did, so I was really excited to be able to hang out with them and be able to serve our community,” Honeycutt said.
She also mentioned the importance of students giving back, especially to local services such as the senior center.
“Doing things for others always puts things in perspective for you and just being able to take care of the community when they are doing so much for the community and the elderly,” she said.
The school-wide day of service was comprised of students from middle and upper campuses, a total of more than 400 students giving back to the East Texas community.
According to Travis Albea, director of marketing and communications at Brook Hill School, the mission of the event is to depict Christ washing the feet of the disciples on Maundy Thursday.
“As a school, we want to wash the feet of our community by serving various organizations,” Albea said.
Other places where students served with community service on Thursday include Hand-Up Network, Faulkner Park, The Branch Church, Bethseda Clinic, Bethel Bible Church, Camp Tyler, Lindsey Park, Glass Recreation Center, Code Enforcement Project, PATH, Starbrite Kingdom Life Equestrian Center and Academy.
