By Sue Kiesewetter
Enquirer contributor

Home Depot volunteer Lisa Fancher wears antlers as she helps 4-year-olds Zachary Burton (left) and Alexis Crum during activities at the Fairfield Kindergarten Center Wednesday. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

FAIRFIELD - When 4-year-old Austin Gibson finished painting his tree green, he quickly reached for the strands of red and gold beads.

The Fairfield Kindergarten Center preschooler carefully positioned the strands on the 6-inch wooden ornament and then added buttons and a star on top.

"I like the balls, and I like the button because it has circles," Austin said.

The preschoolers spent Wednesday painting and decorating ornaments cut by employees of Home Depot, the school's business partner. Thursday, they wrapped the ornaments to take home.

Four-year-old Jessica Robles said she was going to give her ornament to her mother.

"We are going to hang it up," Jessica said. "It was easy."

Austin Brock, 4, places his paint-covered hands on a sheet of paper that will be cut into the shape of a Christmas wreath during preschool activities at the center Wednesday. | ZOOM |

Hardware department manager Rich Murphy said he found the pattern for the tree on the Internet. Employees cut about 90 trees - enough for the morning and afternoon classes. The school provided paint, buttons, sequins and other decorations.

Mixed with the paint was glue so decorations would stick, said Pat Schmees, a special-education preschool teacher.

Besides being fun, working on the ornaments helps the students with fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, Ms. Schmees said.

Workers from the store came in on their own time to assist the children, bringing nails, hammers and boards with pre-cut holes for the children to hammer when they finished their ornaments.

"Home Depot is big on giving back to the community. We got excited about this project and had fun doing it," Mr. Murphy said while helping Austin.

In another classroom, brothers Jarret and Austin Reid had finished their ornaments and were tapping the nails into the holes.

"It's easy. Keep the hammer on the nail," said Jarret, 5. "I have to keep my hands on the hammer."