Painting Begins thanks to Spike & Baz

Let's be honest: due to a lack of maintenance on the exterior paintwork over the past years, our hub has become an eyesore. The woodwork on the brick end has lost all of its protection, and the remnants of the brown wood stain Are? Lets say quite unattractive. This situation has made it a bit of an embarrassment for the management team to share photographs with potential funders and governmental bodies. However, let's not dwell on the negatives; we don't believe in a blame culture here at the hub. This is how we inherited the situation, and it's now up to us to change it.
That process has already begun. In truth, it started quite some time ago, but everything takes a while to set in motion. The need for painting has been a topic of discussion since we began working to save the center from closure. Everyone who cares has pointed out just how much it needs a fresh coat of paint. Painting serves two purposes: it enhances the appearance and also provides much-needed protection. The south-facing doors and windows, which receive significantly more sunlight than the north-facing ones, are starting to dry out and warp in some areas, with slight rot beginning to appear. If we don't take action soon, we may not be able to save the wood. Some of the doors on the old wooden end are already beyond repair, and the doors and windows on the brick end will follow if we don't act now.
Let's shift our focus away from the past. As the saying goes, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift—and that's why we call it the present." Speaking of gifts, Spike managed to source some free paint from Crown, which we were thrilled to receive. However, we still needed paintbrushes and volunteers to help with the work.
Recently, we have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to source quotes for maintenance work, including painting the hub, for a grant we were applying for. Thanks to Spike, it looks like we can reduce these maintenance costs with the free paint. Our number one maintenance team member and all-around excellent volunteer, Baz, generously donated more of his time and also brought his own paintbrush. He has begun to give the hub its first lick of paint in years. While this is just the beginning, what a difference it makes to see the start of this retrofitting and rejuvenation process!

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