SPRINGDALE — Josh Hicklin tried for years to find someone willing to help Elmdale Elementary make its gymnasium a safer place to run and play.
At A Glance
Lowe’s Foundation
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation gives donations to nonprofit organizations and public agencies that support its charitable goals. The foundation’s primary focus is K-12 public education and community improvement. Its signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, has contributed nearly $25 million to more than 5,400 schools across the United States since 2006.
Source: Lowes.com
Hicklin, the school’s physical education teacher for the past seven years, finally found that someone when the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation approved his grant request in the fall.
The foundation has provided $10,000 to replace the polished concrete floor in Elmdale’s gym with a softer surface that’s less likely to cause injuries when children slip and fall. Some of that money also will be used on padding for the gym’s metal walls.
“We’ve been fairly lucky that we’ve not had any major injuries,” Hicklin said. “The floor we have now, when it’s wet outside, the kids’ feet get wet and they can slide on the floor.”
Hicklin said the grant came as a surprise.
“I didn’t expect to receive it,” he said.
Lowe’s, a chain of home improvement stores, has several stores in Northwest Arkansas, including one in Springdale.
Elmdale has nearly 600 students, each of whom use the gym three times per week. A covered walkway links the gym to the main building.
It’s one of the oldest gyms among Springdale’s elementary schools, said Michele Hutton, Elmdale’s principal. She wasn’t sure exactly how old it is, but Hicklin said it was built more than 20 years ago. The school was built in 1965.
Hutton was excited to hear about the grant.
“Ten thousand dollars, that’s a lot of money to us,” she said.
Dottie Hagar, PTA president, said the gym is used during and after school.
“Anything that improves our school is good, because our school is one of the oldest in the district,” Hagar said. “So it needs a lot of upgrading.”
Lowe’s is working with the school to make sure it receives all the right material. Lowe’s also intends to send employees to help install the floor sometime in April, Hicklin said.
Hicklin said he’s been looking for at least five years for grant money to improve the gym’s safety.
“There aren’t many grants in the nation that will allow you to enhance your building facilities,” Hicklin said. “This one allows you to improve and update things that might have gotten outdated.”
Hicklin gave Hutton credit for providing him the time to apply for grants.
Now Hicklin is trying to raise money to install a series of circuit-training fitness stations outside the school that students and the community could use.
“I think I’ll need about $70,000,” he said. “I’m trying to find somebody who would fund that project.”