Scene Around: Painting the Chapel with Community Love

Call it a Fair Haven of a community giving day.

The folks at Fair Haven Fisk AME Chapel would answer that with an “Amen!” A call for help in sprucing up the chapel that anchors much of Fair Haven’s history, more like its actual roots, was put out and the community heeded it.

Such a call has been answered effectively before. It was again on Saturday. Equipped with paint brushes, tools, abundant fellowship and homemade food, made with lots of love, to share, Pastor Gregory Smith and the Fisk family joined about 25 volunteers, former Fair Haven Council President Chris Rodriguez said. “We prepped the walls (of the flood-damaged basement and pastor’s office) for special concrete sealer paint and also prepped dry wall for painting,” he added.

The painting (or prepping) and landscaping around the chapel property’s perimeter was done by the mix of Fisk folks, scouts, siblings and adults from the community.

“There will be an important second volunteer day to add the finish coat in the coming weeks,” Rodriguez added. “The date has not been selected but we’ll need more volunteers.”

“Yes, we need to build on the first villager effort and get even more boots on the ground,” Fair Havenite and avid volunteer Katy Badt Frissora added.

Satiated with a gullet and heart full community spirit and yummy good-for-the-soul Fisk Chapel family food, Rodriguez said, “The pastor and parishioners were amazing and so grateful.”

Here’s a glimpse into what the gratitude was all about, courtesy of Frissora and Elise Casey …