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Graves High Service Day Includes Tornado Cleanup

Graves High Service Day Includes Tornado Cleanup
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By Rebecca Green, Eagle's Eye
May. 17, 2016 | GRAVES COUNTY, KY
By Rebecca Green, Eagle's Eye May. 17, 2016 | 10:59 AM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY
Graves County High School students left their daily schedule to participate in the school’s seventh annual community service day Monday. That was six days after the May 10 tornado that resulted in damage along a 15-mile path from near Fancy Farm in western Graves County on into Marshall County.

Community Service Day is set aside each year for students to travel across the county to provide services for organizations and people in need in some way. The yearly event was instituted by past Graves High principal R.B Mays. This year the day was set into motion by interim assistant principal Adrienne Custer, who coordinated activities and oversaw services offered.

"Organizing over 1,300 students to their specific jobs is no easy feat, especially after a natural disaster,” Custer commented. “However, the goal is to allow students to experience what it is like to help others, no matter the circumstances."

Each year, Graves County students work throughout the city and county with various businesses and organizations. Several students worked at new locations this year to aid those affected by the tornado last Tuesday. For example, one group of students worked at the Graves County Expo Center to help distribute relief items to tornado victims. Graves High senior Zac Heath started working to coordinate those efforts the day after the destructive storm and supervised activities there Monday.

Graves County Judge-Executive Jesse Perry visited the distribution site when students were volunteering. "This has been a trying time for our community,” he explained, “but I'll tell you what, they've come together. I'm 35 years old and I've never seen anything like this!"

Meanwhile, other students aided the community through numerous other activities, including car washes, reading to the elderly, yard work and repairs.

Principal Matthew Madding said he appreciates the opportunity this annual event provides for students. He explained, "Many students go out into the community and find their niche, and I think that's very important."

A special addition this year was coverage from Madelynn Coldiron, a writer-photographer with the Kentucky School Boards Association. Her article will appear in an upcoming edition of the KSBA magazine called “The Kentucky School Advocate.” Coldiron said she was impressed with the breadth and depth of the project, as she toured a range of sites. They included the Expo Center, a nursing home, Purchase Players and Mayfield Community Theater, and Youngblood’s RV Center, which suffered tornado damage.  

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