By Cara Pattison
Contributing Writer
Southwest Covenant Schools successfully implemented their 18th Annual Patriot Project on Nov. 3 at Chisholm Trail Park and Yukon City Park during their annual day of community service and fundraising.
The school’s 540 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students and over 500 parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and volunteers packed the park to perform a day of clean-up and beautification.
Activities included cutting tree limbs, planting flowers, spreading mulch, picking-up trash, installing Christmas light displays, refreshing walking trails, laying sod, and lots of painting.
Patriots painted park benches, curbs, fence posts, perimeter poles, gates, picnic tables, and anything that needed sprucing up.
While they worked, they also successfully raised over $300,000, according to Southwest Covenant Headmaster Steve Lessman.
“Students sent out letters before the project asking friends, family, and businesses to sponsor them during the day of work,” Lessman said. “Thanks to our generous donors, we were able to take 10 percent of the money raised and donate it to Faith Works in Oklahoma City.
The other 90% went back to our school to purchase technology and classroom educational enhancements.”
A private Christian school, Southwest Covenant utilizes the Patriot Project to teach students to mirror Christ-like principles by helping others.
“We do the Patriot Project every year because we want our students to impact the community they live in,” Lessman said. “One of our goals at Southwest Covenant is to raise and equip our students to grow-up and become people that help others.
“It’s a huge blessing, all the hours our students and volunteers put into helping our community.”
