KABOOM!

What a great day!  I was able to be part of something great today!

Kaboom! is a non-profit organization in which Lemoore Parks and Recreation has been working with in order to get a playground built for a community in dire need of one.

And it all came together today.  All of the hard work payed off!  We had over 300 volunteers out today, all rushing to build a playground in one day!  Well, we accomplished that... and so much more!  The playground was not the only thing built.  Friendships were built, a sense of hope for this community was built, connections amongst very different people were built, and a sense of community was built.  I was so proud of everyone.  Of my community.  Of Parks and Recreation.  Of the members of this neighborhood in need.  Of Kaboom!  Of all the volunteers.  And of human kind as a whole.  

Word was spread through the media outlets that this community had no place for all the children to play.  That it was a low-income neighborhood.  And that they were finally going to get a safe place for their kids to play.  Off of the streets!  Having to get 300 volunteers seemed scary at first.  However, as soon as the word got out... it was DONE!

The day came- and we had OVER 300 people.  All working so hard to get this done in one day so these kids in this neighborhood have something to be proud of.  

I went out there yesterday.  The day before build day.  The land was being leveled.  That's it!  Everything else would be done today!

I was not there at 8 am when it all started.  I had worked a graveyard so I needed to get a couple of hours of sleep.  I got there at noon... and this is what I drove up on.

Seeing the looks on the kids faces at 4pm when we did the ribbon cutting ceremony was awesome!  I am SO inspired!  What a hard day that was worse every blister from shovels, every drop of sweat that burned the eye, every clump of dried concrete on my body, and every bit of sunburn.