Parents of K-5 students in all three Gorham elementary schools recently received word that a service project grant was approved and handicap accessible and inclusive playground equipment was soon coming to each of the schools.
Last October, Pastor Travis Bush, Gorham resident and parent of Great Falls School students, was approached by his colleague, Tom Thompson, from a sister church in Alabama and asked to identify Maine communities where his church could conduct its annual service project. Thompson informed Bush that his church would be bringing 135 volunteers to Maine to serve these communities.
Bush, from SouthCoast Community Church in Scarborough, selected Lewiston, Portland, and Gorham (because of his ties to the community and his love for the Gorham schools, town, and people).
Bush approached Becky Fortier, Great Falls School principal, about doing something for the school system. He told her to dream big, like handicap accessible equipment, a project close to him as he has a handicapped brother. Fortier responded very positively.
“Day in and day out I watch that we have this great and beautiful (autism) program (at Great Falls) and some days we have to schedule additional playground time for these kids to have access because it’s so specialized,” said Fortier. “So when Travis started talking about handicap accessible, I was thinking inclusion. How can we get all kids to just be out there enjoying it all together?”
The goal, according to Fortier, is bringing all children in the schools together to play, despite disabilities. Kathy Hamblen, special education director, Norm Justice, facilities director, and the three elementary principals met and discussed possible equipment options.
“Right away we landed on the zip line because it had the bucket seats, sensory pieces, movement, and the wow factor,” said Fortier. “Every student could access it in a way that would bring all kids enjoyment. We then tried to find something sensory – the sand pit. A wheelchair could go right up to the pit. We have those kids that need those opportunities to play.” A third phase in the future would include installing sensory boards with spinners, textures, tic tac toe games, and that bring in a lot of color, play music, etc.
The group presented the cost of the equipment to Bush who then brought the idea back to Thompson. Gorham was given $67,000 to purchase the equipment. That left Bush in charge of raising the site work money – an estimated $50,000 according to Justice. Shaw Brothers offered to donate their equipment and materials, which brought the site work cost down to $20,000.
With generous donations secured to make up the difference, the service project is now scheduled for June 17, a day that has been dubbed “We Love Gorham Day.” Site work has already begun, and Bush has ordered 1,000 t-shirts that he hopes to give out to every volunteer who comes and serves on this day.
In addition to the volunteers from Alabama, eight churches and local ministries are volunteering on this day. These partners include: Child Evangelism Fellowship of Southern Maine, Galilee Baptist Church, LifeChurch, South Gorham Baptist Church, SouthCoast Community Church, The Navigators, The Orchard Community Church, and Young Life Gorham.
In addition to installing the playground equipment, volunteers will be working around town helping Gorham get a facelift and help any resident in need. The group is hoping to have over 500 volunteers between the Alabama church, local churches, and community members. The group is also hopeful that We Love Gorham Day will become an annual event, focusing on a service project benefiting Gorham and its community members each year.
For anyone interested in helping, or anyone in need of help, on June 17, visit this page to sign up. A volunteer will be in contact to assign projects, or volunteers can designate a project they are interested in when signing up. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. A dedication service will be held at 5 p.m., and Superintendent Perry has challenged Bush to a race down the new zip line to celebrate its completion.