Dozens Of Volunteers Help Create Safer, More Efficient Learning Environments For Kids

By Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The non-profit Federation of Neighborhood Centers coordinated renovation projects on Thursday for two community groups in Philadelphia.

The nearly non-stop sound of hammering was music to the ears of Legacy Christian Academy Principal Lanette Fuller.

"Transformation, new beginning, fresh start, just awesome," Fuller says. "It's a miracle."

After being evicted from its previous location at 64th Street and Haverford Avenue, Legacy moved to 62nd and Grays Avenue less than a year ago. Fuller says the building has seen better days.

"It's okay, it's usable," she says. "But we want to make it so the colors, the atmosphere, the attitude, that changes everything about a child's learning."

The change is being made thanks to dozens of volunteers, employees from Aramark.

"It's one big room and there are kids ages 4 to 13 trying to learn in one big space," says company spokeswoman Bev Drivin. "So we're creating partitions and cubbies and murals that are really dedicated to each age group so they have their separate learning environments."

As the Legacy project proceeded, dozens more volunteers were doing a similar job at Grace Safe Place in West Oak Lane.