KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Leaders from area churches announced they will volunteer time this summer to clean up five schools in the Kansas City Missouri School District.

Leaders from area churches decided to take matters into their own hands when schools began to literally fall apart.

"You would be surprised how paint peeling, rusty door jambs can impact a student and to know that the community cares I think inspires them to do better," Gary Schmittes, a pastor with Hands of Hope, said.

Hands of Hope, made up of 30 churches, will use July 18 to take the five schools and give them an "extreme makeover" in steps.

The five schools slated for the cleanup are Westport High School and Ladd, Scarritt, Longfellow and Satchel Paige Elementary schools. The schools feature unpainted gymnasiums and walls, grafitti filled windows and barely standing lockers.

"All 5 schools have had copper stolen from the air conditioners causing $80,000 dollars in damages," Schmittes said.

One principal identified the lack of staff as the cause of the state of disrepair.

"Having an ample staff to address some of these issues as they occur was difficult," Harold Hawkins, principal at Westport High, said.

For more information on Hands of Hope, visit http://www2.kcmsd.net/Pages/default.aspx