GULF SHORES — Gulf Shores City Schools (GSCS) celebrated good works of volunteer support at the Feb. 27 Gulf Shores Gives Back day, where the schools partnered with the community to perform acts of service across the city.

Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Harrison said the goal was to help students understand how important it is to give back to "a community that does so much for us."

"Our hope is that if students participate in Gulf Shores Gives Back from preK to 12th grade, they will develop a lifelong habit of service," Harrison said.

Before students split up into their service groups, a pep rally was held at the Gulf Shores Middle School field.

There, GSCS Board of Education President Kevin Corcoran said the event had gained "over 3,000 volunteers" from the community who were to be scattered "from the lagoon to north Gulf Shores" to assist with the 75 different projects.

He said no matter the task, "we're going to do it today with love."

"We are going to express our love to the community that supports us 365 days a year," he said.

Harrison said the event would not be possible without the system's Mental Health Advisory Committee and the three students who represent Gulf Shores High, Middle and Elementary Schools, Portia Hollis, Katelyn Hamilton and Liliana Sumerlin, respectively.

Elementary students participated in giving back by picking up pinecones and trash, washing police cars and coloring puzzle pieces for the summer program at the city museum.

Those in middle school completed projects such as pressure washing areas of the school, picking up trash on the beaches and performing for Seagrass Village assisted living residents.

Students in high school repainted the dolphin statue and worked on landscaping in front of the high school, provided blood pressure checks and cleaned equipment and courts at the Bodenhammer Rec Center and assisted with a variety of projects across Gulf State Park.

One of the state park sites students worked on building trail markers and an amphitheater on the upcoming sensory trail.

Cindy Langston, volunteer special events coordinator at the state park, started the volunteer-led sensory trail project and said she was excited to host students for the event's second year in a row. She was also on hand with Toolbox Ministry volunteers to assist students in their construction of the amphitheater stage and benches, created from donated wooden telephone poles.

"I have a son who's now 22 who is autistic," Langston said on why she started this project, "and I wanted people or families, not just with autism, but with any special needs to have a place to come and spend time in nature."

For those who are interested in volunteering for sensory trail construction, email Langston at cindy.langston@dcnr.alabama.gov.