Campaign underway to save Edison High’s benches

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Edison High School launched its Save a Seat

campaign last week to raise money to replace the stadium’s collapsing

benches.

The bowl’s benches have been falling apart for the last few years and

are becoming a safety hazard, officials said.

“The bowl is really pretty, but the wood is splintered, old and

discolored, and some parts are broken off,” Edison senior Annie Yea said.

The school started collecting money to replace the benches four years

ago but weren’t able to raise the needed funds. The efforts were revived

Nov. 2, and the school has accumulated $1,424.15 so far.

Staff and parents want to replace the 30-year-old cedar benches with

aluminum ones. Aluminum is less expensive than wood and also more durable

and washable, deterring graffiti because it could be easily cleaned off

with acetone, officials said.

The Save a Seat campaigners and are asking the community for help in

raising the $30,000 for the new benches.

“That seems almost doable,” said Jill Johnson, the school’s community

resource coordinator.

Donors who give $100 or more will have their names engraved on a

plaque that will be displayed in the bowl.

Johnson said she hopes to have the money raised and the benches

installed by the end of the school year.

“They need improvement not just for graduation but for the people that

eat lunch there,” Yea said.

Interested donors can call the school at (714) 962-1356.