Volunteer Painting Project Approved for High School

The Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce has won approval from the Los Angeles Unified School District to repaint Chatsworth High School in October using volunteer labor, Chatsworth Principal Donna Smith said.

The chamber this week sent out about 3,000 mailings to Chatsworth High parents and alumni in an attempt to recruit at least 200 volunteers for the painting project, which is scheduled for Oct. 16, said Mary Gemuendt, executive director of the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber members first floated the idea late last spring as a community service project. Since then, several Chatsworth alumni have volunteered to help with the effort, which will take place in conjunction with Operation Sparkle, a volunteer graffiti cleanup program organized by the Los Angeles Police Department, Gemuendt said.

The school district only has funds to repaint schools about every three decades, and sometimes not even then. It will be many years before Chatsworth High School’s beige paint is due to be freshened at school district expense. But Gemuendt said the school’s paint looks faded and mottled from numerous spots where graffiti were painted out. He added that some areas, such as the restrooms, are especially in need of work.

The chamber is paying for the mailings and is seeking donations of paint and equipment for the project. The plan is to organize volunteers in groups of four with a professional contractor, Gemuendt said.

The painting will be followed by a picnic for volunteers at Northridge Park. Those interested in volunteering or providing supplies should call the Chatsworth Chamber of Commerce.