Bay Shore family digs in for national day of service

One Bay Shore family got its hands dirty last week alongside 500 White House staff members and community volunteers building a playground for a school in Washington, D.C., as part of the 20th annual Make a Difference Day.

On Oct. 23, Francine Poppo Rich and her sons, Jude Tucker, 13, and Dominick, 11, helped build a playground outside Hyde Leadership Charter School in Washington, D.C. The project was overseen by the nonprofit organization KaBOOM!, which organizes one-day playground construction around the country.

Francine Rich said her family arrived on the site at 8:30 a.m. and spent the day working with project leaders from KaBOOM! and some high-powered dignitaries.

Among other White House staff members, volunteers included four presidential cabinet members and their families: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Rich said by the end of the day the volunteers had completed the 3,600-square-foot playground, complete with 30 new trees, an outdoor classroom with a stage and chalkboard, 25 benches for the play space and three painted murals.

The playground was designed by students at Hyde Leadership.