By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The sound of saws and hammering mixed with children’s laughter on May 10 at Kids First Awareness 21^st Century Community Learning Center as a group of Keller Williams real estate agents held their annual Red Day.

During Red Day, which is held each year in honor of Keller Williams Vice Chairman Mo Anderson, Keller Williams agents across the nation spend the day helping a local nonprofit organization.

When real estate agents visited Kids First, they knew immediately who they were going to help this year, said agent Sherry S. Conde.

“We got to see firsthand what (Kids First Executive Director Cindy Hawkins) does with these kids, and we felt this is where we could best serve and give back to the community that has given so much to us,” Conde said.

Kids First is an after-school program for at-risk kids in Alabaster’s Simmsville community.

During Red Day, the real estate agents worked to build two awnings in the Kids First playground, cleaned the organization’s grounds and held an after-school party for the children at Kids First.

The project also included installing a new concrete pad and basketball goal in the playground, which was scheduled to begin on May 11.

Conde said she and the other real estate agents received a warm welcome at Kids First, and praised Hawkins’ work.

“She gives back to the community in such a big way,” Conde said. “You can tell she has had an effect on these kids’ lives.”