School Board Member Nathan Rust Has Unique Way of Giving Back to Neighbors
Six years ago, local painting contractor Nathan Rust decided he wanted to use his skills and his company to give back to the community.
The idea was simple: Choose a family that really needed their house re-painted but couldn’t afford it. Then make it happen! Paint it forward!
He tells the story this way on his website, prestigiouspainting.com:
“Hello, I’m Nathan Rust with Prestigious Painting, and I want to tell you all about ‘Paint it Forward’ where we offer a free paint job to someone in our community. We first decided to start doing Paint it Forward when we were inspired by other painting contractors who were doing the same. We believe it’s very important to use the skills and talents we each have to serve the people around us.”
“There are so many people and their families who are deserving of a service like this. They may really need help maintaining their home—it could be a single parent, an elderly person on social security, a veteran, or just someone that gives so much to others that you want to give something back to them.”
“That was the case with our winner from 2018—an awesome family that had a reputation for doing anything for anyone in need. Then they lost their home to the flood of 2016. A relative nominated them and out of all the nominations we received that year, this story really spoke to us the most. We were able to paint the exterior of their home that they had to rebuild from the foundation up. It was a small part of the very big effort it took for them to have their home back again, but I’m really proud that we were able to serve them.”
Every year, the individual or family receiving the paint job has a wonderful story. Some will bring tears to your eyes, Rust said.
Rust, who also serves as an elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, said one year the members of his team were so moved by two of the applications that they couldn’t decide on a winner and went ahead and painted both houses.
The decision on who will receive the service is made by Rust’s team, who enjoys going over the applications. Members of the team donate their services to the effort. Often six or seven painters are involved in the job. Sometimes local paint companies donate paint and other supplies to help out.
It’s a unique way to use Prestigious Painting’s professional skills to do something special for a person or a family who needs a little help.
Rust said his team is always looking for applications. The deadline this year is Nov. 30.
To make application for yourself or someone else, go to prestigiouspainting.com/community/paint-it-forward.
The winner will be announced online and in the St. George Leader in December.
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