MAHLE Clevite volunteers turn one Day of Caring into two days for local children
(Talk of the Town photo by Cathy Overholtzer) Above, surrounded by students after the completion of the initial phase of their playground building project, MAHLE Clevite employees, dressed in their brightly colored Day of Caring t-shirts are, from left, Scott Potts, John Black, Tim Wilkins and Denny Beucler.
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Below, the volunteers made sure the entire project was constructed safely and correctly. The dedicated volunteers spent two Days of Caring at Faith Christian Academy this week, much to the delight of students and families eager to enjoy the new playground equipment.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The squeals of delight and the smiling faces of children made it worthwhile for a team of Day of Caring volunteers who managed to turn one Day of Caring into two this week. 
A team of volunteers from MAHLE Clevite in Churubusco initially volunteered to spend Tuesday building a new playground feature for the children of Faith Christian Academy, however, in getting into the job, it turned out they needed a little more time.
After finishing the main tower of the structure, the team, comprised of Tim Wilkins, Denny Beucler, Scott Potts and John Black, decided they’d spend Wednesday constructing a rock climbing wall and tunnel to complete the project.
“They were great workers and made sure the project was done safely,” said school administrator Pastor Larry Schmoekel. “They used T squares and put together correctly – a fantastic job.”
Schmoekel and others were particularly moved by the volunteers willingness to come back for a second day of work at the school.
“They came back and that was not expected of them,” said Schmoekel with appreciation.
Funding to purchase the new playground equipment came from the Faith Christian Academy parents group who focused their attention on several fundraisers last year to make playground upgrades at the school.
“This is really a wonderful addition to our school,” Schmoekel added.
“We are just so grateful to the volunteers from MAHLE Clevite for taking time out of their busy schedules to help build this for our children,” said FCA school board member Tony Romano.
Since completion of the project, the new tower has become the playground hotspot, with a line of pint-sized players lining up for their chance to amble up the rock wall or shimmy down the slide.
“They’ve loved it,” said Schmoekel. “They hardly could wait until it was done,” he said of the children who clamored for a view of the project out the window, eager to try it out for the first time.
“They’re learning to take turns nicely,” Schmoekel said, an added lesson they learned from the project.
Schmoekel said the students are planning a school-wide gesture of thanks to MAHLE Clevite – eager to share their appreciation.