Gulf Shore’s Dolphin Dads have been providing a little manpower and muscle this summer to help the city’s new school district prepare for its inaugural year.

In August 2016, just weeks before the first day of school, Jason Stephenson received a call from his wife, Jennifer. She was at the school and took note of a lot of little things that needed to be fixed before school started and suggested he get some guys together and get to work.

“When she speaks, I listen,” he said.

“I was at the school and another dad showed up looking for the Dolphin Dads. I laughed and told him, ‘Now that you’re here we can put an ‘s’ on it,” Jason said.

Four dads gathered that first workday with Jason’s landscape crew and cut grass, cleaned up the landscape, and assembled picnic tables.

In May, before the portables were removed at Gulf Shores Elementary, the Dolphin Dads helped teachers empty their classrooms. In June, the group assisted with teacher move day. Some teachers were reassigned to different classes, so everything had to be moved. Dads, daughters, sons, moms, and grandparents were all on hand to help.

“While it is Dolphin Dads, we laugh that we have dad-ettes, dad-daughters, dad-grandparents. It’s not specifically dads. It has expanded to an organization of work. We work closely with the PTO to provide labor, and Dr. Akin knows he can call on us if he needs help,” Jason said. “The school is making a difference in our community, and we are excited to do anything we can to lighten their load.”

Dolphin Dads started at Gulf Shores Elementary, but Jason hopes to expand to all three schools this school year.

“We hope to get a Dolphin Dad leader in middle and high school. We welcome dads in all states, form, or fashion,” he said.

Beautification day is scheduled for July 30 at 9 a.m. Like GSES Dolphin Dads Facebook page to get in touch or get notifications of upcoming workdays.