The 28th annual Paint the Palouse event may be a few days away, but the University of Idaho is already colored in communal compassion.
Paint the Palouse will bring together Vandals and community members Aug. 26, to paint four different houses in the Moscow area.
“The houses chosen are based off of their degree of need,” UI senior and Paint the Palouse organizer Zachary Scott said. “People who are disabled, elderly or financially unable to fix up their homes. Everybody wants to live in a nice looking house.”
Paint the Palouse has been a staple part of the Vandal community since it began in 1989.
“It’s been a Vandal tradition for nearly three decades now,” Scott said.
As time goes on, Scott said the university and community will continue striving to expand the event and assist more people in the community.
“We try to add on as much as we can, or as much as we can physically do,” Scott said. “We get up to around 250 to 350 volunteers every year, at least the last few years I have been here, and we do between two to four houses.”
Paint the Palouse gained support from local businesses around the area like Moscow Building Supply and Sherman Williams, who, Scott said, help make the event possible.
Scott said volunteering in any capacity is one of the best things to do for one’s own character and community.
“A lot of research shows that the more involved you are, the more likely you are to succeed in college, or a working environment and life in general,” Scott said.
Although the last day to sign up was Tuesday, Scott said anybody is free to volunteer the day of the event, however a t-shirt might not be provided.
“Anybody in the community can help. We’re not going to turn away anybody who wants to help,” Scott said.
Scott, who serves as an Area Assistant for Housing and Residence Life, is an ROTC cadet and member of the Idaho National Guard Scott said more volunteering in addition to painting will also be take place on Saturday.
“This year we are partnered with the Idaho National Guard, they will have a table set up, so volunteers may also write letters to veterans overseas,” Scott said. “If you for any reason don’t want to take part in the overall effort, you can always take time to help those in an even larger community.”
Andrew Ward can be reached at [email protected]
