NMC R-1 students, volunteers work to make changes for the better

NEW MADRID, Mo. - For New Madrid County Central student Luke Chisenall, Change the Community Day reminded him of a quote from Helen Keller: “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”

On Tuesday, 83 high school students, nine instructors from the R-1 Technical Skills Center and 47 community volunteers completed a variety of projects to change New Madrid County for the better.

Gloria Houston, New Madrid County R-1 SkillsUSA adviser, explained the event was made possible after the New Madrid County R-1 Technical Skills Center won a grant from Lowe’s to change their community. The company awarded the students $15,000.

Students divided into teams to tackle projects throughout the school district.

In New Madrid, a team led by Regina Gossett and volunteers from Corteva Agriscience cleaned the yard of a senior citizen and another team led by Andrea Harris and the SEMO Health Network maintenance crew built three benches for the local nursing home. Another team of students under the direction of Corlie Wilson and Kayla McGee assisted Joe Ross in bagging cans collected over three years which will be recycled and the money used to purchase bicycles for elementary school students.

At the city of New Madrid’s maintenance shed a team led by Ethan Hunziker and Steve Clark with the assistance from the city of New Madrid constructed beds for children in foster care. Also in New Madrid there was a hygiene products and cereal handout by a team which was directed by Katherine Stanley and Hope International volunteers. 

GL Keene, Richard Edwards and Robert Green’s team built a wheel chair ramp for a disabled senior citizen in Lilbourn. A ramp for a disabled veteran was also constructed by team led by Danny Darnall and members of the VFV in Lilbourn.

Gloria Houston, Ben Pyles and Jason Colbert’s team built a ramp in Matthews for a disabled woman and her daughter, who has Down’s syndrome.

Others volunteered their time to keep the students and leaders well fed throughout the day. Members of the New Madrid Fire and Police Departments cooked hamburgers for the participants. The lunches were then delivered to the sites by volunteers from SEMO Health Network. 

Members of the Kewanee Missionary Baptist Church and Matthews Missionary Baptist Church prepared and delivered snacks to all the sites. 

The Bank of New Madrid provided T-shirts for the volunteers.

As the projects were completed, the high school students agreed their time was well spent.

“It was very hard work, but it was worth the outcome,” said Alexia Green.

Jalicia Johnson added at first it was difficult as she tackled the work. “But the outcome of it made me feel very good and kind,” she added.

Members of the planning committee for Change the Community Day were:

Sarah Ezell, SEMO Health Network; James Russell and Paula Russell, VFW Post 7183;

Richard McGill, city of New Madrid; Jerry Lathum, New Madrid County Health Department; G.L. Keene, The Riverbend Pentecostals; Corlie Wilson and Kayla McGee, New Madrid Family Resource Center; Brittany Lancaster, Corteva; Marty McReynolds, Bank of New Madrid; Joey Higgerson, New Madrid Police Department; Ben Pyles, Big Prairie Jaycees; and Gloria Houston and Katherine Stanley, New Madrid Technical Skills SkillsUSA.

SkillsUSA students who led the committee were: Olivia Nelson, Avery Fowler, Samantha McElroy and Jalicia Johnson. 

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More photos of the Change the Community projects are available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1aX5gkr0n7Du981wCzMT8HORuNIJY-42X