GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — Parts of West Virginia are starting to look better.
Work continues on the more than 300 projects in nine counties that make up the Reaching the Summit Community Service Initiative, what has been called the largest community service effort in U.S. history.
The Initiative includes thousands of Boy Scouts and Venturers attending the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Fayette County along with those with Americorps, Volunteer West Virginia and other civic and volunteer organizations.
“What a great American idea,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO for the Corporation for National and Community Service, of the effort.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of West Virginia University football players, escorted by Quincy Wilson, were volunteering their time for projects at Summersville Elementary and the City Youth Center.
Spencer was scheduled to visiti the site as part of her tour of the service region.
“There’s so many wonderful things that these Boy Scouts from all over the country and Americorps members from all over the country, from as far away as Hawaii have come into West Virginia, to make this beautiful state even more beautiful than it already is,” said Spencer.
After Friday, the remaining service days were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Over the five total days, officials estimate volunteers will put in more than 300,000 total hours of community service time.
The 2013 National Boy Scout Jamboree wraps up in Glen Jean on Wednesday.