By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Children at Alabaster’s Kids First Awareness Community Center recently took a day trip to Orange Beach to receive recognition for a yearlong project they undertook to beautify their community.

The group from Kids First traveled to Orange Beach on March 8 to attend the Alabama Community Education Association conference, where they were awarded the 2017 Bob Ritchey Green Award.

The association awarded Kids First with the honor after the children recently finalized a yearlong project to construct a beautification garden for the senior citizens in Alabaster’s Ward 1.

“We could not help the at-risk youth in our community without some caring friends in our community. We are so pleased with the students’ efforts and enthusiasm while working on the garden project to bring love, unity and leadership to our community,” said Kids First Executive Director Cindy Hawkins.

The following children worked on the garden project, and traveled to Orange Beach to receive the Community Education Association award:

Creek View Elementary School students Taniya Hudson, Brooklyn Oliver, Alex Wilson and Seven Gaiters.

-Thompson Intermediate School students Hayden McDonald and Isaac Wilson

-Thompson Middle School student Zion Gaiters

-Thompson High School student Shaundra Brown

-Montevallo Middle School student Cameron Lucius

-Parent KeKe Lucius, Kids First volunteer Autumn Underwood, Executive Director Cindy Hawkins.