Albion-Homer United Way Supports New Homer Playground

Providing a safe and inclusive place for Homer children to play recently received support from an Albion-Homer United Way grant. The $4,000 grant was awarded to the Homer Community Schools Parent Involvement Committee to help fund school playground equipment.

According to Kayle Wilson Homer Community School Family Engagement Coordinator the committee has been actively raising funds to replace the 20-year-old playground equipment.

“As the heart of Homer, our school is often a gathering place for so many people in the area,” Wilson said. “We are happy to provide this resource to the community.”

 She explained that some of the old playground equipment is no longer considered safe for children due to a lack of function, missing components and exposed metal edges. Additionally there is not enough seating around the playground for children, parents, grandparents or staff. The swing sets also need to be replaced. Plans call for benches and new swings at the playground.

The new play area will be universally accessible for all children regardless of mobility, vision or hearing impairments, Wilson stated in her grant proposal. The playground will be built in three phases. No money has come from the school budget but rather from grants. The first phase will cost just over $181,000. The Parent Involvement Committee has led the fundraising for replacement of the playground equipment.

Albion-Homer United Way’s commitment is to help fund non-profit programs through grants. On-going donations throughout the year are needed to fund these efforts.

According to AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey there are several good reasons to donate to the local United Way including that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and funding decisions are made by a local board. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier. Donations can be mailed at any time to AHUW P.O. Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.

AHUW board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, Robert Hawkins, Art Kale, Marc Newman, Isabell Nazar, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.

Albion-Homer United Way recently granted $4,000 to Homer Community Schools Parent Involvement Committee to help replace school playground equipment. The first phase of the project is scheduled to be complete by the 2022-23 school opening.