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ALBANY, GA -- Assistant City Manager Wes Smith took a day off from his city job to help Lincoln Elementary Magnet School with some handiwork.

The school recently held a fundraiser where student artwork could be purchased in multiple forms including t-shirts and tiles. Parents purchased tiles with their child’s artwork. Smith, whose children attend the school, took his Friday morning to help hang the tiles on the walls of Lincoln Elementary Magnet School.

“It's something I enjoy doing. I’ve got kids here my wife teachers here and I’m really proud of the school. I like helping,” says Smith.  “This is done as a part of a fundraiser and it helps provide additional art supplies for the kids because the budget for supplies is fairly low.”

The art department says their budget breaks down to $1 per student among just under 900 students.

To put it in perspective, a box of 48 count crayons cost $4.

Don’t forget paper, paint, brushes and colored pencils: All for 900 students.

It starts to add up, which is why the school hosts these fundraisers to buy additional art supplies.

The art department also began asking for donations from local office supply stores.

Smith says parent volunteers are something the school and community needs more of.

“Parental involvement and parents being involved in the schools is very important to the success of the school,” says Principal Sheryl Holmes. “Lincoln volunteer hours are over 4,000 hours a year. Many of the parents give during their lunch time, after school on weekends.” 

Smith says he’s volunteering for another reason.

“The kids get a sense of pride seeing their work up like this because I’ve done enough of this that when I'm done and have it all framed out it will look real professional and they'll be real proud that they're a part of that. Like I said, it's for the kids, not me,” says Smith.

Smith says he learned how to lay tiles from classes at Home Depot.