The town of Sterling will be buzzing early on the morning of Saturday, May 1, as more than 150 Sterling College students and community members get ready to "Love Sterling" through working on projects all over the town.

Many of the volunteers will be painting. The bathhouse, lampposts, fire hydrants, a few houses around town, Reed Pharmacy's storefront and the picket fence in the alley next to Dillons will all receive a new coat of paint. Other volunteers will take children to the Sterling Manor to enjoy the company of Manor residents and help with cleaning projects. Anne and Craig Smith, the College coordinators of the event, are excited about this cooperative effort and the involvement of the City and Main Street Sterling.

Joellen Maurer, wife of SC President Dr. Paul J. Maurer, has gotten community churches involved. The Reformed Presbyterian Church is providing sack lunches for all the students and workers who don't have meal plans at the College, and the United Presbyterian Church has promised an endless supply of dessert for the after-the-event party at Sterling Lake. Volunteers from several other area churches will be working on projects alongside the College students.

All community members are invited to help and can stop by the gazebo at the lake on Saturday morning to be given a work assignment. Work projects begin at 9 a.m. and the party begins at 5:30 p.m.

"One of my favorite things is to work hard on something I believe in with people I enjoy," said Anne Smith. "I love it when people come out of the bubble of self-sufficiency and independence that isolates us from each other. Let's get to work. Let's have some fun."