SCHOOL MAKEOVER

What do you get when you mix 1,000 volunteers, thousands of dollars in donations and a 100-year-old school? You get a school makeover that gives kids another reason to be proud of their school. Springfi eld Sharefest starts on July 25, bringing volunteers from around the city together to renovate Feitshans Elementary School in just four days. A project of West Side Christian Church, Sharefest has happened twice before -- in 2011 at Harvard Park Elementary and in 2013 at McClernand Elementary and Jane Addams Elementary. More volunteers are welcome, with jobs ranging from basic cleaning to construction. In past years, they’ve spruced up classrooms, painted murals, refi nished a stage, replaced kitchen equipment and transformed playgrounds. Afterward, the renovated schools have shown better test scores and more parent involvement, making it a great way to give back in a tangible way. For more information or to get involved, check out www. springfi eldsharefest.org.