Thousands of GE employees spent Wednesday volunteering at local schools in Southeastern Wisconsin.

It’s all part of GE’s Community Service Day.

They are doing everything from painting, cleaning, landscaping, and organizing rooms, all  to create a welcoming environment before thousands of students before they return to class on September 1.

A big emphasis here is the outdoors to make the blacktop a little more play friendly.

There are about 2,100 volunteers at 22 different schools throughout Milwaukee, Hartford, Wauwatosa and Waukesha doing similar project.

And staff from the Milwaukee Bucks are also helping out.  Bango was painting the backboard of a basketball hoop.

This something volunteers say they look forward to all year round because they know it makes a  difference for the kids.

"It gets us out of our work circles and gets us back into a place where we can enjoy and support the community. We have lots of employees who have students attending MPS and schools in Waukesha and so to physically get out and help the school, it's a great day for everybody, " said Pete Macakanja, GE employee, and school project leader.

"There nothing like on the first day, seeing their bright eyes, their smiles, their teachers, they are so giddy when they come in and see all the changes in their school and that's really the best part of it." Dr. Darienne driver, MPS superintendent.

This is event is considered one of g-e’s largest single-day volunteer opportunities in the world.