ShoreCorps/PALS Participates in Ben's Red Swings Effort

SALISBURY, MD---ShoreCorps/PALS (Partnership for Adolescents on the Lower Shore) members at Salisbury University are helping make a young Salisbury child’s dream come true. ShoreCorps/PALS are among the participants in the construction of Ben’s Red Swings, a playground reconstruction effort at the Salisbury City Park, in memory of Benjamin Layton who passed away last year at age 4 following a two-year battle with cancer. Ben’s final wish was that he would receive angel wings when he arrived in Heaven in his favorite color—red. The Ben’s Red Swings project memorializes that wish by providing a safe place for other children to play. Community members gather to reconstruct the playground—adjacent to the west entrance of the Salisbury Zoo—Tuesday-Sunday, May 11-16. Organizers seek food service, child care and construction volunteers as well as electricians, carpenters, musicians to entertain children, artists and photographers to assist in the six-day event. ShoreCorps/PALS assists Saturday, May 15. An AmeriCorps program at SU, ShoreCorps/PALS provides outreach to thousands of at-risk youth and adolescents on the Eastern Shore by providing mentoring and tutoring, conflict resolution training, parent and family support service programs.  ShoreCorps/PALS goal is to improve youth’s grades, improve life skills, reduce conflict and increase volunteerism. For more information on volunteering for Ben’s Red Swings call 410-341-0880. For information on becoming an AmeriCorps member next semester call 410-548-5119.