Exchange Club and Oddfellows members at DPD

All over Lake Highlands, Vickery Meadow and Northeast Dallas Saturday, teams of Leadership Dallas alumni gathered friends and family for Community Day, their annual half-day of service. The project united more than 850 volunteers to roll up their sleeves and provide more than 3,000 hours for more than 40 local agencies.

Sign up for our newsletter!

* indicates required

“My mom sort of dragged me here, but I think we really helped,” said Drew Harris, a 10th-grader on the Wildcat drum line who volunteered at Healing Hands Ministries’ clinic. “We painted walls and put together chairs for the waiting room, and it was quite the transformation. I think the clients are going to feel welcomed and comfortable.”

“It was awesome and so much fun to have our son working alongside us,” agreed Kristen, Drew’s mom. “He learned something and walked away proud of his work.”

Steve Harris and Chris Thompson, members of the same Leadership Dallas class, were co-captains at the Healing Hands site and brought their families along to pitch in.

“It didn’t even look like the same room,” said Chris’ son, Asher, whose tasks included taking off outlet covers and painting walls. “It changed the whole room. I didn’t know that was possible in two hours. Seeing the waiting room transform was really crazy. It was like HGTV.”

Steve and his team sent out a call for “the Joanna Gaines of Lake Highlands,” and Virginia Krejci of Virginia Krejci Interiors stepped up, volunteering to design the clinic’s behavioral healthcare space.

“It was great to see people giving of their time, putting forth the effort for a great cause,” said Steve.

Volunteers also chipped in at Pamper Lake Highlands, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, the Northwest Community Center, Tasby Middle School, Lowe Elementary, Heart House and Literacy Achieves. Also Saturday, members of Oddfellows Cycling Club and Exchange Club of Lake Highlands refurbished the Dallas Police Department’s Northeast Substation.

Leadership Dallas, the Dallas Regional Chamber’s flagship leadership development program, supplies the city with a pipeline of trained and diverse leaders. Participants engage in a ten-month educational program, with in-depth exposure to critical issues facing the community.

Leadership Dallas alums hang a portrait of Thurgood Marshall at Thurgood Marshall Elementary. Photo by Mary Worthington.

Asher Thompson, Chris Thompson, Kristen Harris, Drew Harris and Steve Harris

Healing Hands entry after

Healing Hands entry before

Exchange Club members at DPD

Exchange Club members at DPD

Exchange Club members at DPD

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.