Sleeves were rolled up and shovels were down at the John W. Decas Elementary School on Saturday, September 10 as volunteers from Lowe's and the school mulched, planted shrubs, and painted new picnic tables at the school's playground, which a committee is working to raise $100,000 to replace.

"We're hoping to get one structure very soon. We have enough [money] for one piece," said Decas Playground Committee member Jennifer MacKerron, who works in the main office of the school.

Most of the playground was torn town in May after its aging structures were deemed unsafe. Only one small structure with a slide remains.

Lowe's was enlisted to help after employee Amy Smith-Sullivan, whose aunt Tiffany DeBlois volunteers on the playground committee, suggested the project be the Wareham store's community project for this year.

Lowe's Heroes, volunteers from the store, assist one nonprofit organization per year with a building project. The company donated mulch and loam, shrubs and plants, new picnic tables, and paint to help get the new Decas Elementary playground off the ground.

"We came, we looked, we said: 'Yep, we can do it,'" said Jessica Silva, human resources manager for the Wareham Lowe's, located in Wareham Crossing.

Silva said approximately 20 Wareham Lowe's employees volunteered for the day-long event, which had employees arriving as they finished shifts at the store or even taking days off to help out.

The volunteers spread new mulch around the existing playground structure and enclosed the area with new timbers so the mulch will stay in place. An existing wall surrounding the school's four square court was painted a bright yellow, the new picnic tables were painted blue with a "D" for Decas, and the entire area was weeded, brush was removed, and new plants were put in.

Among the volunteers was 4th grader Isabella DeBlois who helped "cut down the weeds and overgrown tree" and painted picnic tables.

Isabella said it was hard work, but she didn't mind helping out.

"It's my school and I just like to be active!" she said.

Even Decas Elementary alumni stopped by to chip in some manual labor.

Kendall Baptiste and Gabrielle LeFrancois started middle school this year, but that didn't stop them from giving back to their elementary school.

Kendall said she wanted to "make [the playground] fun for little kids."

Gabrielle echoed that sentiment, saying she wanted to "make the [Decas Elementary] years better" for the younger students.

Wareham Police School Resource Officer Karl Baptiste also recruited teen volunteers from the Key Program on Charge Pond Road. The Key Program assists troubled youth, helping teens develop life skills.

The Key Program's Alex Morales arrived with four young men ages 15-17 who were able to assist the Lowe's volunteers with a lot of the labor.

The weather was warm and sunny - perfect conditions for the work, considering the event was rescheduled from the weekend that Tropical Storm Irene blew into Wareham.

"Now that school's in session, we wanted to get this done" quickly, said Silva. "It's a great cause."

Shaw's, Stop & Shop, and Cosi donated food for the volunteers, while Papa Gino's gave the committee a deal on pizza in an effort to help out.

The Decas Playground Committee still must raise approximately $85,000 to complete the playground. To find out how you can help, contact Jenn MacKerron at 508-291-3530.

Additionally, families can raise funds for the Decas Elementary playground by participating in the Dick Melloni Youth Foundation Family Fun Ride on Sunday, September 18 at the Cape Cod Canal. The money raised by Decas Elementary families will be donated to the playground committee. For more information, visit www.dmyf.org.