This area has plenty of wonderful resources and assets. Let's not forget we have four universities and a medical school, all located within Erie County.  Many, many students come to Erie County to attend Mercyhurst University, Gannon, Penn State Behrend, PennWest Edinboro, and LECOM.  Most of them aren't going to stay after they graduate.  But, we can still remember them thanks to the community projects that they do.  

Here's one example.  Mercyhurst University students are painting wooden crayons.  The crayons will be linked together to make a colorful fence to replace the old weather-worn crayon fence inside the children's area at the Erie Zoo. 

"The crayons have been there for decades,” says Kylie Kaspick, Assistant Marketing Director at the zoo.  “I can't even tell you when they were initially installed. They've been a trademark of the zoo.  I think a lot of people remember from their childhood seeing the crayon fence."  

The zoo has been putting off the fence replacement project because it just does not have the resources and staffing to do the work. The students from Mercyhurst came to the rescue. The chairperson of the art department, Jodi Staniunas Hopper, sent out a call for volunteers to paint 85 new wooden crayons. The students did not disappoint.  They wanted to do something for their temporary adopted home.  Evie Swanson is a first-year student from Pittsburgh.

"This is a really great opportunity that I'm really grateful for,” she says. “To be able to work in Erie and work with Erie and do something that benefits Erie since I will be here for awhile.  I want to be able to get involved and love my new city."  

Besides painting the wooden crayons, the students also mixed the paint to come up with some interesting colors to match the plants and animals at the zoo.  They were asked to give the colors names that kids would enjoy.  Names such as Gecko Green and Potbellied Pig Pink.  Hannah Wittenburg is a senior from Punxsutawney.  She painted three wooden crayons and can't wait to see the reaction from young zoo visitors.

"It's awesome to build a community crayon and see all the kids be happy and enjoying it.  It would be very heartwarming,” she says.

It is unknown where the students will end up when they leave Mercyhurst.  But, they always will be a part of the Erie community as long as their colorful crayons are on display.

The new crayon fence will be erected in time for the opening day of the 2023 zoo season on March 1.  By the way, some of the old crayons that are not too weather-worn will be auctioned off as a fund raiser for the zoo.