A new playground is coming to Hillcrest Transitional Housing of Buchanan County this weekend, and you’re invited to help build it!

The work day will start at 7:30AM and will conclude at 5:00PM on Saturday, October 3 at 3000 Parkway A St. Joseph, MO.

The apartments are just west of Mark Twain school.

Employees of Johnson Controls will be present to volunteer during the build. Johnson Controls came up with the idea of building the playground and donated the first $10,000 to the project. Mosaic Life Care also donated $10,000. Show Me Women Who Care donated nearly $5,000 to the project. All 3 phases will be built on October 3rd. Ashland United Methodist Church donated a security fence that will be put in place later in the month so the children of Hillcrest will be safe playing on the Hillcrest playground.

“We are thrilled that this new playground will serve both the children at Hillcrest Transitional Housing and the St. Joseph community with a safe environment to play,” said Shannen White, Affiliate Director, Hillcrest Transitional Housing. “Playgrounds help with imagination, creativity and problem solving.”

Hillcrest Transitional Housing offers homeless families, singles and youth a place to stay while they go through a disciplined education program aimed at self-sufficiency within 90 days.

“Children develop a sense of self when they master a new skill and play with others,” said White. “All of these benefits from the new playground are a vital part of helping children as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency right along with their parent(s).”