Brushing up on kindness: Kids paint a picture of community spirit

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Young Brett Mullican puts some elbow grease into his painting for the Change the World youth rally. He is the 9-year-old son of Butch and Gina Mullican. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

The Westwood Church of Christ-sponsored youth rally called Change the World helped local kids make a difference over the weekend by working to clean up and paint houses for local residents who are either unable, or can’t afford, to do so themselves.

The annual event gives kids a chance to learn the value of doing a job and doing it well while helping others in the process. According to Aubrey Haley, one of the adults who supervises the young workers, it demonstrates the community spirit of the kids who are involved.

Around 200 local youths participated in the event which includes activities at the church such as seminars, music, entertainment and instruction in addition to volunteer work to improve local homes.

Westwood Church of Christ’s Jim Welch says the aim of the program is learning.

“They go out and do five of these houses each year to serve the community,” Welch said. “It teaches the kids service.”

Haley feels the volunteer efforts speak well for the kids.

“The kids today get a lot of negative publicity,” he said, “and this way you can come out and see what some of the kids are doing. This is the fifth year they have done this.”

Haley is understandably proud of these children.

“You won’t find any better. They work, they’ll take instruction when you show them how to do anything,” he said. “And the thing that impresses me most is they’ll say yes sir and no sir to you.”

The kids themselves said they were glad to be involved. Young volunteer Sam Pryor noted the occupant of the house his group was working on was ill and had lost his wife a year ago.

“We’re just helping because he can’t do it right now.”