Last spring, Boys & Girls Clubs community partner Mr. Lewis from Baton Rouge STEM introduced baby chicks to students at McKinley Elementary. Students were excited to care for the chicks and watch them grow as they learned about their life cycle, nutrition, and habitat needs. When the chicks were finally old enough to move to their outdoor coop, things took a devastating turn. School security footage showed that a raccoon had found its way into the coop during the night, leading to a tragic loss of all the chicks.
Students and faculty were saddened by the loss, as they had formed strong bonds with the chicks and invested time and effort into their care. Although the experience was upsetting, a lesson was learned about outside predators and the need for better, stronger protection measures to keep something like this from happening again.
In the wake of the tragedy, ExxonMobil stepped in to support McKinley Elementary in building a more secure outdoor coop for the new chicks to thrive without the threat of predators. ExxonMobil Machinery Specialist Terry Wiltz selected this project in honor of Capital Area United Way's Season of Caring initiative, which connects employees to volunteer opportunities throughout the city.
Boys & Girls Club staff provided materials needed to build the new coop, while ExxonMobil employees, alongside students and faculty, volunteered their time and skills to construct the shelter for the new chicks. Twelve ExxonMobil employees rolled up their sleeves to assist with #ProjectSavetheChickens, bringing power tools, welding equipment, and their willingness to collaborate.
After five hours of teamwork and determination, the sturdy coop was finally completed, finished with secure latches, washers and bolts, and ample ventilation to ensure the chicks would be both safe and comfortable. Students and faculty watched excitedly as finishing touches were made, and they can not wait to welcome the new chicks to their secure home.
"We thank ExxonMobil for their incredible support and dedication to saving the chickens! It is community partners like ExxonMobil that make a significant impact on not only our students, but also on the entire community," said Seresa Corbin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana's Director of Community Engagement.
Thank you to our friends at ExxonMobil for making #ProjectSavetheChickens a huge success and giving our feathery friends a new home!