SCORES OF VOLUNTEERS ON A ROLL.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - More than 750 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and went to work Saturday to clean, paint, landscape and make other improvements at five local schools as part of the 13th annual Make A Difference Day.

The all-day event was organized by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Palmdale, and included volunteers from the company as well as dozens of local students, parents and school staff members.

``This is a team effort that truly inspires you,'' said Desert Rose Elementary School Principal Esmeralda Mondragon, whose school benefited from the volunteers' work. ``This is such a wonderful event and the school definitely needed the help.''

Volunteers gathered early Saturday morning and were given their assignments before heading out and cracking open hundreds of cans of paint to spruce up the five schools.

Less than an hour after volunteers went to work, organizers started running out of paint rollers.

``The turnout has been incredible,'' said Mike Bondar, a Lockheed employee and one of the dozens of organizers for the event. ``We set a goal of about 650 volunteers, and we obviously surpassed our goal. It's been really great.''

The schools chosen for the event were Desert Rose, Mesquite Elementary, Ocotillo Elementary, Palm Tree Elementary and Wildflower Elementary.

Several older buildings at each school were given fresh paint. Lawns and plant areas were weeded and cleaned out.

Handball and tetherball courts were repaired and painted. Lines on the blacktop in the kindergarten areas were repainted. Equipment was repaired.

The event, which took more than two months to plan and coordinate, was part of the national Make A Difference Day, billed as the largest day of volunteerism in the country.

Last year, the nationwide event saw more than 3 million volunteers across America performing various charitable acts to benefit their local communities.

Lockheed Martin is one of the largest supporters of Make A Difference Day and has joined forces with local elementary and middle schools for the past three years.

Although Lockheed donates thousands of dollars in cash and equipment each year and provides the majority of volunteers, other local businesses play an equally important role in the event, organizers said.

Dunn-Edwards, JaKay Ranch, Robertson's Palmdale Honda, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, H&E, Lowe's, Grainger, Palmdale Water District, Palmdale Public Works, Pizza Hut, Coca-Cola and Krispy Kreme each pitched in to support the event, organizers said.

Equipment rental companies including A1, Westside, Palmcaster, United and Northridge each donated the use of paint sprayers, scaffolding and other equipment.

Greg Botonis, [phone]

greg.botonis(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Two-year-old Sabella Bautista, right, toddles along as volunteers with Lockheed Martin help paint at Desert Rose School.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer