10th Graders Help Boones Mill Train Depot Open

9/29/2016

'Many hands make light work' was the spirit in Boones Mill (near Roanoke) earlier this month as two dozen Tandem 10th graders painted and cleaned the historic Train Depot and caboose. Because of their hard work, the Depot was ready to host tours and an open house as part of 39th Apple Festival in Boones Mill. “We’re so grateful for Tandem School’s spirit of service,” said town manager Matt Lawless.” Our students were on their week-long outdoors trip to the Skelton 4-H Center at Smith Mountain Lake and completed a day of service work on the Boones Mill Depot. Tandem teacher Jen Burstein helped organize the trip and described the Depot work as, “A great idea and very in line with the school's commitment to service and community.”

During the service day, the largest team of students cleaned and painted the Depot interior. Smaller groups cleaned large items from the donated caboose and mapped trails for a future community park uphill from the Depot. The group achieved over one hundred hours of community service, and some students also had time to view the Foothills Produce Auction selling goods from local farms.

Thanks to Matt Lawless, Boones Mill Town Manager, for this update.

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