Volunteers will pitch in during the holiday season to help make repairs at 11 public schools using grants totaling $350,000 from Hawai'i 3R's.

When the volunteer labor is factored in, the value of the repairs rises to more than $700,000.

The schools are Castle High School, Mililani High School, Kailua High School, Nanakuli Elementary School, Kanoelani Elementary School, Olomana Elementary School, King Kamehameha III Elementary School, Pope Elementary School, Lahainaluna High School, Waiakea-waena Elementary School and Lehua Elementary School.

Work includes repainting three cafeterias, replacing walkways, installing a sprinkler system and renovating a portable classroom.

"With the holiday season fast approaching, our volunteers are generously giving of themselves to improve Hawai'i's public schools. We've seen time and again the tremendous impact a little 'sweat equity' can have on a school and its students," said Bruce Coppa, Hawai'i 3R's board chairman.

The 3R's program — for Repair, Remodel and Restore — began in 2001 with an initiative from U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, as a way to help overcome the backlog of repairs needed by Hawai'i's schools.

The program works by matching state, federal and private money with work from volunteers.

It has received funding from groups including the Hawai'i Community Foundation, the Campbell Estate and the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation, the AT&T Foundation and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

The program awards grants to public schools that step forward with private contributions and professional volunteerism of equal or greater value to the requested grant amount.