By Laura Reinhardt

Bright yellow school buses pull up to D A Hulcy Middle School in South Dallas, filled with volunteers from Watermark Community Church. Instead of worshipping in their sanctuary this Sunday morning, these Christians will worship God in their community by painting, cleaning, and doing repair work at this timeworn school.

Paula Pipkens, one of the school’s teachers, says, “I’m so ecstatic. I’m happy because, from a teacher’s standpoint, it makes me feel like somebody cares about the job I’m doing. They care about my students. They care about my school.”

Paula was instrumental in making this school makeover a reality. Because she teaches in a Title 1 School, Paula is able to regularly visit World Vision’s Teacher Resource Center, which provides school and classroom supplies to teachers in low-income schools. She was delighted to have access to the tools her students needed but often couldn’t afford—basics like pens, pencils, and paper. Among those students is Daveon Hunter, who says he appreciates that he can always ask Ms. Pipkens for those items and that she has a ready supply of the classroom essentials.

Earlier this year, Paula also saw an opportunity to replace the school’s rickety furniture, some which dated back to the 70s. One teacher’s desk was held together with duct tape. Another teacher sat on an upside-down paint bucket for want of a chair.

Paula called Principal Roberto Ayala and urged to him to visit World Vision. He returned with chairs, desks, file cabinets, and other office furniture.

But World Vision wasn’t done caring for the school. Working with Watermark Community Church, World Vision connected the church and the school for the volunteer opportunity. World Vision’s Storehouse supplied the painting and cleaning supplies, and the school district provided the paint. Together World Vision, the church, and the school district organized to send the message to students that others care about them and their school.

Here in South Dallas, many families struggle in extreme poverty. Almost half of local households with children live below the poverty line. Lack of education perpetuates the cycle of poverty. In 2005, only 48 percent of South Dallas residents older than 24 finished high school, com¬pared with 70 percent in the city of Dallas, the J. McDonald Williams Institute reports.

Donate to help children and families overcome by situational poverty.

D A Hulcy Middle School echoes the impact poverty has on education. Many of the school’s students come from struggling homes, Ayala says, so when they learn in a run-down, under-equipped school their feelings of inferiority are reinforced. They come to believe that nobody cares about them.

Ayala speaks from the heart. He grew up in poverty. When he entered middle school, his feelings of inferiority contributed to a dwindling interest in school. Only the support of caring individuals helped him to realize he wanted to do better.

On this Sunday, the church volunteers waste no time getting to work, pouring paint into pans and grabbing cleaning supplies. The halls fill with chatter and laughter. Pastor Todd Wagner says, “We’re looking for ways to be the hands and feet of Christ… we tell our folks all the time there’s no such thing as a random act of kindness. When you’re a follower of Jesus, nothing you do is random. So what we’re doing today is very, very intentional.”

Volunteer Cathy Ratliff paints a wall in the school’s bathroom. “I have a new appreciation for World Vision,” she says. “There are just so many places, even in our community in Dallas that so desperately needs just a little bit of help.” The supplies World Vision donated make it easier for people to take advantage of volunteer opportunities such as this one, Cathy says.

In a stairwell illuminated by one of the school’s few windows, a group of volunteers paint over graffiti. Cracks and holes in the walls are filled, and covered with a fresh coat of paint. Volunteer Shara Stills says, “This is a great way to get out of [our] little shells and to get out of our bubbles and to come and serve people—and especially to do that on a Sunday—it kind of shows that it’s not about a building. It’s about loving people and caring about them.”

At midday the volunteers gather outside the school to head back to their church. Ayala addresses the group, “Our windows have never been so clean,” he laughs. Then adds more seriously: “I walk the halls and pray that through your spirit of generosity my school will be blessed for years to come. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Principal Roberto Ayala marvels at the difference a coat of paint makes in the school’s atmosphere.

On Monday morning, the students agree. “I saw the white, bright paint and I was like ‘Oh that’s nice,’” says 13-year-old Candi Davenport. “It might make a better environment for me to be around than dark, dim, gloomy-looking walls.”

Student Devyn Fields says, “It makes me feel good because I have someone that cares about me and my future.”

Principal Ayala began his journey at D A Hulcy Middle School with a dream to provide an oasis that nurtures students in South Dallas. World Vision in partnership with Watermark Community Church is helping bring this dream to fruition. Through supplies and the dedication of generous partners, these students know they are surrounded by caring people who are willing to invest themselves in seeing youth break free from poverty and change their world.