After being unable to host the annual Day of Action last year due to COVID, United Way of Pettis County is planning on bringing it back full-force and making it bigger and better than ever.
The 2021 Day of Action is planned for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2.
“The previous day of action we went to different schools and helped paint fences, clean out playground equipment, and mulch,” said City Councilman Tom Oldham. “We went around to different veterans that we helped with various housing projects, on one job we built a wheelchair ramp. We had the Red Cross with us and some groups out of Day of Action went house to house installing fire detectors. The City really likes to get involved In the Day of Action, and one of the biggest things we do is a citywide clean-up.”
The cleanups will have a central starting place where volunteers will meet, get organized, form teams and fan out in a 5-10 block radius.
“We reached out to the neighborhood and we encouraged them to really do a strong cleanup of their neighborhood,” Oldham said. “We did Liberty Park on the previous Day of Action, and we had an amazing turnout totaling about 400 volunteers. We cleaned out alleyways, we cleaned up vacant lots. We cleaned up trash from everywhere in a 10-block radius around Liberty Park. We got that completely cleaned up. It was amazing.”
This year United Way of Pettis County is looking for even more volunteers, whether corporate teams, local businesses, families, or individuals hoping to make a difference in the community.
“We're looking for anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of this thing, individuals or groups,” said Oldham. “This is a day that's going to be filled with community projects. We're going to do a citywide cleanup. We're locating a few veterans that we're going to help. We're installing more smoke detectors.”
This year the neighborhood cleanup is going to be centered at Vermont Park. The kickoff of the event will feature breakfast donated by several local businesses and guest speakers will kick off the day. Local businesses will furnish and cook lunch.
United Way of Pettis County Director Catterina Riddle has already begun reaching out to businesses with team applications. If your business, church or organization would like to participate or have a project you would like to submit contact Oldham at toldham@sedalia.com or 660-281-4149 or Riddle at catterina.riddle@spcuw.org or 660-826-2980.
Application forms also may be picked up or submitted at the US Bank Building, 3615 W. Broadway Blvd. on the third floor.
“This creates not only community involvement, but it brings out our community pride,” Oldham added.
