“Action Day” attracts 350 volunteers

More than 350 volunteers gathered in Katy Park last Saturday morning to kick off a “day of action” that included 34 projects in and around Sedalia.

The event has been organized over the past few months by Rachelle Simon, executive director of the United Way of Pettis County, and her board of directors.

Simnon explained that residents who needed help with home improvement projects brought them to the UW board, and the board approved the projects that would be worked on during the June 22 action day.

In addition, a cleanup effort was held around six blocks of Katy Park, which served as the headquarters for the five-hour event last Saturday. The effort was led by First District City Councilman Tom Oldham, who said this was his fourth or fifth such event.

“One year we were in Liberty Park, one year in Vermont Park, this year we’re in Katy Park. I go around and see if the teams need anything and provide them with water, trash bags, gloves, rakes, etc. That’s kind of my role here, I oversee the neighborhood cleanup,” Oldham said. “If there’s an emergency, I pick them up and bring them back.”

The cleanup area was divided into 14 sections.

As for the various projects, Oldham noted that the board assigns teams to projects well in advance of June 22 so that everything is well organized and efficient. A survey was also conducted beforehand to find out if residents would like to have something to do on “action day.”

Simon said this year’s event attracted 350 people in 33 teams. Last year there were 20 teams with 250 volunteers. The size of the teams varied widely, from four to 30 people. At least five projects were outside the city limits.

“So many people came out to give back to the community,” Simon said of the event, adding that Altrusa served breakfast to the volunteers.

Third Ward Councilman Bob Hiller addressed the crowd with a proclamation during the opening ceremony, while Simon delivered a speech thanking volunteers for their time and talent. United Way board members signed each of the 350 volunteers at the Katy Park homeless shelter. Payton Jones of Marshall sang the national anthem to open the event.

The appreciation shown by the residents for the work carried out on the day of action brings real warmth to Simon’s heart. “I am so happy and full of joy,” she commented.

“I think we often fail to recognize the good that people still feel for each other. This is in some ways restoring people’s faith in humanity. So it’s a lot of work, but you know, I like it,” Simon told KSIS.

Thanks go to Altrusa for breakfast, the Sedalia Lions Club provided lunch, Dugan’s Paint provided all the paint for the projects, Heartland Cocoa-Cola provided all the beverages, and many local businesses provided discounts to the United Way for the day.

“Everyone offers what they can, and every little bit helps a lot,” Simon concluded.

In the photo above Members of the Smith-Cotton High School volleyball team helped paint the fence at Community Church of Christ, 2000 South Ingram, on June 22 as part of United Way’s Day of Action.