Operation Paint Brush spruces up city neighborhoods

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Early Friday, Dorothy Smith, 65, site coordinator for a special painting and landscaping project at 702 E. Lucius Ave., gave out water, juice and apples to children walking to Taft Elementary School on the city’s South Side.

The house and yard behind her were going through major physical changes for Operation Paint Brush. The lot is easy to see for those walking to Taft every day.

“We were greeting the children walking to Taft school, letting them know that they can help. They see us out here caring, and we let them know they can help take care of their neighborhood,” Smith said. She encouraged the children to come back and volunteer today with Operation Paint Brush on its second day of work.

Operation Paint Brush is a two-day project focused on four city locations: East Lucius, 530 Catalina Ave. (North Side), 92 Eliot Lane (East Side), and 2006 Thurber Lane (West Side).

The project is organized by Jon Howell, 54, a Bloomington, Ill., resident and Youngstown native, with his partner and wife, Adrienne, 54. The Howells began contacting local organizations and businesses with the Operation Paint Brush blueprints after the couple discussed how they could increase the quality of life in Youngstown.

The answer was simple to the Howells – improving housing.

Jon Howell believes newly painted houses, newly planted flowers and cleaned yards would make the neighborhoods feel more aesthetically pleasing.

“Practical and simple projects like Operation Paint Brush do just that,” he said. “The north location is owned by a 92-year-old man who can no longer work on the paint job of the home or afford it. It costs probably about $5,000 to paint a home.”

Smith and Mrs. Howell were pleased to see the operation inspire the volunteers as they expanded their work space, cleaning other yards around the house.

The coalition of Operation Paint Brush has been backed by a multitude of different organizations: from other area nonprofits, to the Youngstown Police and Fire departments, to independent businesses looking to give back to the community.

Restaurants also are involved. Chick-fil-A plans to drop off box lunches during today’s workday.

“I was excited when Jon reached out to me about the project. I am excited to help beautify the city, and the work is going well,” said Mike Gibson, 29, owner of Gibson Works Property Art LLC. He spent Friday tilling the ground in front of the newly painted forest-green home for a delivery of bushes and flowers.

Another volunteer, Dave Cook, 48, a city firefighter, grew up down the street. He attended Taft, and said he enjoys doing some good for his city.

There were about 10 to 15 volunteers at the East Lucius home, including Jonathan Bentley, 36, director of the city’s Human Relations office, who spent the day cleaning up the yard.

“I have been volunteering since I was about 15 years old. I was born and raised in Youngstown. This volunteer day is important because, like other volunteer projects I have been a part of, it is important to give back to the community,” Bentley said.