Photo Provided Barnesville high and middle school students ready for the school district’s community cleanup day scheduled for May 9. Students will help local businesses with yard work and clean up their businesses as a way to thank them for their support. Pictured, from left, are Jeannie Chance, Anna Sells-Stewart, Carter Steed, Darby Jones, Karter Kaplet, Logan Tague and Eric Wilson.

BARNESVILLE — As a way to show their appreciation for the businesses that have supported them throughout the years, students in the Barnesville Exempted Village School District will conduct a community cleanup day in May.

The cleanup is slated for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9, with a rain date set for May 16.

Superintendent Angela Hannahs said students in all grades, kindergarten through 12th, will participate to help clean the exterior or interior of area businesses’ shops. The initiative is the school district’s way of showing gratitude for the local businesses who donate to their activities and programs.

“We’re trying to get students from every grade level to participate,” she said. “We just want to say thank you to the community that supports us. It’s something small that the kids can do and show that we just appreciate the support that we get, not only with our academics but also with our sports programs. It’s just a small gesture to say thank you to our local businesses who support us.”

She said anytime the school requests donations, local businesses always come through.

“If we have fundraisers, they’re always purchasing things from the students to help with when they raise money for their sport’s teams. They sponsored our gymnasium, our football stadium; they sponsor our STEM program, our high school musical. Just any facet of our education system, they are willing to help us out in any way that they can,” she added.

Hannahs said plans for the cleanup are still in the works. Principals of the elementary, middle and high schools are working with teachers to gauge which classes, athletic groups or student organizations may be interested in being involved in the cleanup.

The school district originally planned to hold the event in 2020; however, the COVID-19 pandemic stalled it until now. Though this is the first year for the event, the district is hoping to make it an annual occurrence.

As of last week, 10 businesses had contacted the school to participate in the cleanup, though the district is still accepting more. On the cleanup date, students will mow, trim weeds, pick up trash, wash windows, clean, or anything the shop requires assistance with, Hannahs said.

Any businesses interested in having students come out to assist during the cleanup can call 740-425-3615.