Rockdale Citizen

Jada Moffitt, left, and Isabelle Nesmith, both of the Girl Scouts Rockdale Service Unit, spreads mulch on the lakeside walking trail at Elks Aidmore Children's Home. The girls, along with other Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other volunteers worked on several projects as part of their Day of Service Monday.

CONYERS — In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day of Service, Boy and Girl Scouts, local volunteers and Elks Aidmore staff and residents completed several volunteer projects on Elks Aidmore’s campus.

Volunteers gathered on Elks Aidmore’s campus Monday and gave a few hours of their day off for service to their community.

Over the course of four hours, volunteers created a new trail along Honey Creek, painted and corked windows, painted foundations and cabins, stuff baskets and place wood chips on various trails.

Also, Rockdale and Newton County Girl Scouts solicited donations for Elks Aidmore residents. Girl Scout Daisies sorted and packaged the donations Monday inside the Aidmore gymnasium.

“It feels good to give back, our Scouts understand the power of volunteerism and enjoy coming together to strengthen our community. Because of our shared dedication to community empowerment, lives are being changed every day," said Lisa Wust, membership specialist for Newton and Rockdale Counties.

“We welcome volunteer groups to our campus and have worked with the Scouts for several years. Most of the docks and bridges on campus are the result of Eagle Scout projects,” said Abe Wilkinson, Elks Aidmore CEO.

“We have a job at Elks Aidmore that should not exist. No child should be a victim of domestic abuse and subsequently removed from their home," Wilkinson said. "As sad as it is, it is very much part of our world and we are honored to be in a position to help as many of these youth as we can and more importantly, to be part of a community that fully supports our mission. Our goal is for all of them to become healthy contributing members of society.”

Dawn Robinson Butler, Elks Aidmore director of development and communications said her organization is looking forward to making the day of service an annual event.

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, 'Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'" she said. "Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities."