Jay Sowers / The Natchez Democrat — McLaurin Elementary School teacher Evelyn Geter cleans up a classroom near a line of paintings that Belk Natchez completed while volunteering at the school on Friday morning.

JAY SOWERS / THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Natchez Belk employees Eric Barbato, center left, and Herbert Eble, center right, use power drills to assemble a picnic table while Zerline King, left to right, Sarah Strozier, Marsha Young and Michelle Wynn help hold the table’s legs in place while volunteering at McLaurin Elementary School on Friday morning. Belk employees across the country are volunteering at schools in their communities as part of the 125th anniversary celebration for the department store.