Members of the community neighborhoods and churches are joining together to clean up and spruce up several neighborhoods in the area around Hirschi High School. Torin Halsey
David Cavitt has been coaching at Hirschi High School for 14 years, and some of the equipment in the weight room has been there as long as he has.
The coach said he turned to the Rev. Angus Thompson for ideas to raise $20,000 for equipment to benefit the high school, as well as Kirby Junior High.
Operation Fresh Start ignited from that one idea into a full-fledged community revitalization effort involving students, churches, businesses, area residents and the city – so far.
“We’re trying to put hands and hearts together,” said Thompson, pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church.
A musical fundraiser will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Thompson invited the public to Operation Fresh Start’s first fundraiser to enjoy the music and give a donation if they wish.
“I said, ‘Part of the agreement is we will help you, if you will help us to get the community cleaned up,’ ” Thompson said.
In return for raising the money, Hirschi will work with Operation Fresh Start, as well as hopefully Kirby Junior High and Kate Burgess Elementary School, during a community clean up scheduled for May 12, Thompson said.
“We’re trying to create a new impression of ourselves, of our community and of our neighborhood,” Thompson said.
Volunteers and residents want the neighborhoods around the schools to be clean and well cared for, he said.
So students will give to as well as receive from churches, nearby residents, businesses and city personnel. Their combined efforts will benefit the schools, spruce up the community and lead to connections among them.
“We have some wonderful people who live near the schools and in Lynwood East and West,” Thompson said. “However, most of them are poor. We want our residents and students to feel safe.”
Hirschi Principal Doug Albus said students and staff members want a stronger connection with the community and are excited about cleaning up the community in a joint effort.
“We’re hoping from that we’ll just continue to grow and build that bond,” Albus said.
Thompson said believes it is better for students’ mental health to learn in a clean neighborhood.
“And we don’t want to forget about our side of town,” Thompson said. “We think if it’s clean, people will want to live in the area.”
The area has several abandoned houses that should be occupied, he said. The cleanup will help stabilize the community and fill storefronts.
“If they’re filled, it will provide employment for people who live in the community,” he said.
With the big picture in mind, Thompson deployed his deacons to survey the area with a map provided by the city.
Johnnie Williams, vice chairman of New Jerusalem’s deacon board, said they want to show residents what their church is all about by getting outside of the church’s walls.
“We’ve been going out, speaking with different residents in the area ascertaining what needs to be done. We looked into possibly removing old furniture, cutting grass,” Williams said. “We want to get out and help out our senior citizens.”
Deacon Alonzo Nelson is among the foot soldiers surveying the neighborhood.
“What I see is that it could catch fire,” Nelson said. “Other communities, they could start doing some things as well.”
Deacon Billy Land, a longtime New Jerusalem member, was enthusiastic.
“I’m 100 percent with the program,” he said.
Several churches are involved in an effort that crosses racial lines and denominations.
“I believe the church should always be part of anything that’s happening in the community that’s part of rebuilding and revitalizing the community,” said Mark Graham, pastor of Overcoming Word Praise Center.
Other churches involved in Operation Fresh Start include Antioch, Pilgrim Rest, Shiloh, New Harvest, Church of the Living God and Pillar of Ground and Truth.
Hirschi High School and church choirs will sing at the first annual Church, Community and School Fundraiser Saturday evening at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church.
Thompson said Wichita Falls Police Chief Manuel Borrego is supportive of the effort, as are members of the City Council and Wichita Falls ISD Board of Trustees.
Cavitt said students will appreciate new weight room equipment, and it’s well deserved in light of how well Hirschi has been doing in athletics.
“I think everybody that we’ve told about it has been really kind and giving whatever they can,” Cavitt said.