Volunteers sought for Great Day of Service in Joplin

(From the CIty of Joplin)

Area residents are encouraged to volunteer for the upcoming Great Day of Service set for this Sunday, September 25. The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, is sponsored by Joplin area churches in cooperation with the City of Joplin.

Last year’s event saw nearly 2,000 people volunteering to help cut, prune, mow, pick up trash, wash windows, and paint houses in various areas of Joplin. Projects will be focused in the Neighborhood Improvement areas that have been identified by the City and other community service organizations. These include neighborhoods near Junge Stadium as well as a 16-block neighborhood located between North Joplin Avenue and North Gray Street from A Street to C Street neighborhood north of B Street.

“When planning this years’ service project, we decided to work in the neighborhoods previously identified as needing community service prior to the May 22 tornado,” said Connie Chrisman, City’s coordinator of this event. “Plus, with the amount of demolition work being done in the disaster area, we did not want to interfere with the large equipment operators and others working on those projects.”

Organizers of this year’s event are hoping to see 2,000 volunteers participating to provide the assistance needed for this community service program. Citizens can volunteer as an individual, a family or with a group, civic organization, or a company.

To volunteer, people can signup up on line at www.greatdayofservicejoplin.com or call Justin at 624-6915, ext. 361 at College Heights Christian Church. In addition, persons can also go to the Volunteer Booth that will be located at Landreth Park starting at 8 a.m. on September 25.

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, tools, eye gear, weed eaters, lawn mowers, loppers, lawn chairs, water, etc. Workers should wear appropriate work clothes, and closed toe shoes.

Upon completion of the volunteer work, everyone is invited to a Block Party at Landreth Park to enjoy fun, music, food, games, and fellowship with both old and new friends from our community.

For more information, contact Connie Chrisman, Community Development, at 624-0820, ext. 570 or go to the Great Day of Service website at www.greatdayofservicejoplin.com .