Sixty-three NeighborWorks organizations in 31 states took part in a thematic event called NeighborWorks Paints! on Saturday, June 7, to kick off National NeighborWorks Week, which took place June 7-14, 2008.
The goal of this event was to use paint to beautify communities around the nation. This effort was also groundbreaking because the network was encouraged to go green by purchasing paint with low volatile organic compounds.
Benefits of Using Low VOC paint
- Low odor—rooms can be occupied up to one hour after paint application
- Reduces toxins (ozone depleting chemicals) in the air – no “off gassing”
- Provides excellent coverage and easily maintained
- Easy clean up with soap and water
Event Participation
NeighborWorks Paints! was an added feature of—not a replacement for – National NeighborWorks Week, which took place June 7-14, 2008. All participating organizations:
- Held their painting event on June 7th
- Wore NeighborWorks Paints Apparel
- Painted anything—mailboxes, planters, park benches, murals, houses, furniture, etc!
Types of Projects
There were many projects that NeighborWorks organizations completed. Below are some project examples at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
Beginner
- Paint mailboxes
- Update garden benches in your community
- Spray paint planters
- Prime and paint a picnic table
- Renew wicker furniture
- Children’s face painting
Intermediate
- Paint house numbers on a curb
- Repaint caution paint on curbsides in your community
- Paint concrete above storm sewer gutter drains with “green fish” logo to indicate “no dumping of paint and oil”
Advanced
- Scrape and paint a house—interior or exterior
- Artistically paint boarded up windows and doors on an abandoned building
- Paint a mural on a community garden wall
- Artistically paint doors
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