Anderson Excavating digs education
From our weekly issue dated August 27, 2008
(Photo by Ali Madjdi for Illinois Valley News)
A slow economy isn’t deterring “Ditch Digger” from offering free school supplies to encourage education during the Illinois Valley Lions Club Labor Day Festival from Saturday through Monday, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
Although the past year has been difficult for many due to the price of fuel, slowdown in real estate markets, and employment layoffs, the David Anderson Excavating booth will be back at the Labor Day Festival dispensing school supplies to valley students.
Students who have a talent to share, or just want to have fun, are encouraged to stop at the booth to play for free and win free school supplies.
This will mark the fourth consecutive year that Anderson and his Selma-based business has promoted education at the festival with his booth that provides local students with supplies that they may need for the first day of school. The booth has grown from one table with some crayons, pencils and filler paper to a full booth providing every item required on the Three Rivers School District supply list for Illinois Valley public schools.
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In keeping with the festival theme, In the Illinois Valley, We Grow Trees & Champion Athletes, Anderson would like to take it one step further and says, “We also grow well-educated children.”
He added, “This year, business has been slow for me, as well as all the other local excavators, but we keep on digging. It is when times are tough that you dig deeper and try harder, a lesson that students of today should heed,” he says.
Anderson has been a fixture in Illinois Valley since he was 11. He attended Kerby Elementary School until it closed and Evergreen took its place, later attending Illinois Valley High School. A high school drop-out, Anderson learned his lesson the hard way.
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“I have always been proud of being a ditch-digger,” he said, “but who knows what I could have done had I stayed in school.
“One thing I do know – if I had completed my education and considered higher education – running my own business would have been a whole lot easier.
“I want the kids to learn from my experience,” said Anderson. “It is my hope that by offering this once-a-year, free activity booth that encourages education, it might add just enough fun to keep the community kids excited about returning to school.
“Besides winning the free school supplies, we have added, once again, more special surprises to be offered throughout the three-day festival,” said Anderson.
“It is people like David that keep small communities like ours alive and well,” said Steve Lyons, I.V. Lions past president and festival chairman. “During the past three years the David Anderson Excavating school supply booth has been one of the most popular booths among the kids.
“Although sight and hearing are the main focus of the Lions Club, we encourage and support all positive efforts that focus on our kids. After all, they are our future.”
