Chronicling tornado damage led photographer to VISTA

It all started with a thesis.

“I was working on my graduate thesis, taking photos to represent all of Mid-Missouri,” said Mary Kindle. “I came to Sedalia after the tornado went through, taking photos of people,” she said, referring to the tornado last May.

“It was then that I got involved in the Salvation Army and decided it would be better to help people, not just take an image.”

Kindle is one of five VISTA volunteers in the Sedalia area, known as the Minority Outreach of Sedalia, and is responsible for marketing and community awareness.

“My biggest job is to get the word out about what VISTA is and what we’re doing in the community,” she said.

“Of course, that’s just the official job. The unofficial job includes doing everything from giving rides to the senior center, helping coordinate volunteers and working with the other VISTAs to come up with communitywide programs.”

A few weeks ago, Kindle was putting the finishing touches on a postcard for the Minority Outreach, featuring a photo of a young Sedalian she took after the tornado.

“We’re going to send these cards out, not only to let people know who we as an organization are but also to let people who may need it know we’re here to help,” Kindle said. “I’ll also be using them in presentations to civic groups and possibly do a mailing.”

Kindle said she hasn’t volunteered much in the past but is loving her new job as a VISTA.

“I’m finding a lot of people want to volunteer, but they don’t really know where to start. I was like that,” she said. “(VISTAs) find out the needs in the community and then find ways to solve those problems. It’s not all about building houses or serving meals. There are a lot of ways to volunteer.”

As the marketing and community outreach coordinator, Kindle said it’s her job to keep Sedalia and Pettis County residents aware of what VISTA members do.

“I’m working on a video that we can present to different social and civic clubs to get more volunteers,” she said. “There’s a percentage of people who always volunteer in this community: They show up when needed, and that’s great. My job is to help the other VISTAs recruit new volunteers, people who may not know exactly how they can help.”

Elvera Satterwhite, who wrote the VISTA grant and is a former VISTA member herself, said, “We wrote the marking coordinator position into the grant purposefully. We felt the people in the community didn’t have a clear understanding of what exactly VISTAs do.

“While they know the Salvation Army helps the poor and the senior center is for seniors and (Amigos de Cristo) is a church, they probably don’t realize how many other programs each organization does.”

Satterwhite said Kindle have multiple long-term projects, including fundraising and community awareness events such as a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a senior fair and a concert for the Salvation Army. A multicultural cookbook also is in the works.

“Mary keeps very busy, that’s for sure,” Satterwhite said. “She’s incredibly talented and helps out with whatever is needed.”

Kindle said she wasn’t sure if she would apply to receive the VISTA grant again when the current one ends in November.

“I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet, honestly. I’ve been so focused on my day-to-day things,” she said. “I do know that I love what I’m doing. Sometimes you wait for an opportunity to help people, and other times, like with me, the opportunity finds you.”