June 7, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Better Paint than Never

• Firefighters get a late start on "Paint Your Heart Out"

After twice being delayed or postponed, Shreveport firefighters are finally getting a late start on their "Paint Your Heart Out" project this year. Adopting an unofficial slogan, "Better Paint Than Never," firefighters are determined to complete the project this weekend. The original project, which selects area homes in need of repainting but whose owners are unable to do so through conventional means, was slated for June 1. Thunderstorms that day and the Fire Department’s Open House the next weekend pushed the repainting to this weekend.

Firefighters will be sanding, priming, and putting a fresh coat of paint on the home at 1835 Michel (one block south of Midway avenue) Saturday morning. Firefighters will start around 7:00 a.m. and should finish by noon. Event coordinator Chief David Bryant said the project is something the Fire Department takes part in every year and is another way of giving something back to the community. All firefighters participating in the event are off duty and volunteering their time and talent. ###