photo by: Kathy Hanks

The children in the early education program at the Ballard Center sit with teachers, staff and 16 volunteers with Treanor HL who took off work for the companies Day of Giving working on a variety of jobs around the center, on Feb. 14, 2019.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, a group of volunteers showered the Ballard Community Center in North Lawrence with caring on Thursday, doing all sorts of projects for the early childhood education center.

Although the 36 preschoolers at the center went about their typical day, they couldn’t help but be distracted by the many strange faces in the building. Some of the strangers were hanging new blinds in a classroom. Others were making noise putting up new shelves in the school’s food bank. Several other volunteers were sorting piles of clothing in the room where free clothing is available to anyone in need.

For the past three years, the Ballard Center has been a recipient of local architecture firm Treanor HL’s annual day of service, known as Love Connects, which is always on Valentine’s Day. The Lawrence-based architecture firm closes its offices for the day so that staff can volunteer in the community.

“Valentine’s Day is filled with love and we are showing our love for our community,” said Erin Mayer, an administrative assistant at Treanor HL who was volunteering for the day at the Ballard Center.

On Thursday, there were 16 Treanor volunteers working at the center, while others chose to volunteer at Lawrence Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Red Cross, or their children’s schools.

Youngsters in the 3-year-old to 5-year-old class watched as architects Amber Harden and Gwen Gigous installed new blinds. In another room, Faye Jones, CFO at Treanor HL, was studying the center’s budget, trying to see about grant possibilities. At the other end of the table, Anne Dillon and Sarah Henning, both marketing managers at Treanor HL, were updating the center’s brochure and making “save the date” cards for upcoming fundraisers.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

Children in the early education program at the Ballard Center, 708 Elm St., North Lawrence, watch as architects Gwen Gigous and Amber Harden, on the windowsill, install new blinds in their classroom on Feb. 14, 2019.

“It’s really good when you do the work we do that someone has your back,” said Becky Price, CEO of the Ballard Center. “It’s a sense of security.”

She said she couldn’t imagine how much it would have cost to pay for all the services that Treanor HL offered Thursday.

“They are figuring out how to utilize space,” Price said. “The money they are saving us, I don’t know how to put a dollar amount to it.”

The 105-year-old building was built as a school, but in the late 1960s it became a community center for North Lawrence, said Chase Booth, chief operations officer of the center.

photo by: Kathy Hanks

The Ballard Center, a nonprofit organization that provides early education and essential basic life assistance to low-income families and all in need, welcomed 16 volunteers from architecture firm Treanor HL on Feb. 14, 2019, who helped with improvements at the center.

In 1981 the Rainbow Child Development Center opened at the Ballard Community Center, and since then, the center has also added Ballard Emergency Services, which offers families everything from food and household goods, bedding and towels to emergency assistance for rent and utilities.

Price said she was moved by Treanor HL’s willingness to lend a hand.

“I love the fact that Treanor closes its office and allows their employees the opportunity to work for us,” Price said. “Lawrence is a town who supports their own.”