SIKESTON - Teams of Sikeston residents will join
forces with their neighbors for a community-wide
clean-up set for Oct. 20. The project coincides with
"Make A Difference Day" - a nationwide effort at
volunteerism and community betterment.
The massive one-day project will take place from 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. with volunteers removing trash,
trimming bushes and cleaning yards around the city.
According to Missy Mashall, executive director for the
Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, SACC had been
involved in years past with clean-up efforts. Last
year was different however as the SACC went beyond its
membership to the community at large and asked for
help.
"It was more successful than they anticipated, more
successful than the previous approach," Marshall said.
Last year, the community efforts of more than 300
volunteers resulted in 1,340 cubic yards of trash
being hauled off and helped to bring several houses up
to city code. National organizers of Make A Difference
Day reported more than 2 million people took part in
service projects nationwide last year.
"I'd like to stress that this is a good opportunity
for the elderly or those who live on their own to have
items hauled off," Marshall said.
Work teams will register and receive assignments at
the staging area, near North West Street and Compress
Road.
The work assignments will be located throughout
Sikeston, based on requests from residents and
landlords.
Anyone wanting to request clean-up services can call
471-8318, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday from
now until Oct. 19. Signed permission is required
before clean-up begins.
Marshall noted that work assignments are already
coming in, and she gives credit to the Ministerial
Alliance and the City of Sikeston for helping out.
Church youth groups will engage in friendly
competition to generate interest in the clean-up as
well. The group with the most volunteers to sign in on
Oct. 20 will be presented with the "Spirit Award." The
competition is being sponsored by the Sikeston Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Organizers are asking for volunteers for work teams,
registration, providing food and assisting with
staging site set-up and tear-down. Anyone interested
in volunteering is asked to call 471-8318, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday from now until Oct. 19.
"We need plenty of volunteers," Marshall said. "Its
looks like right now that we've got a lot of youth, a
lot of high school students taking part which is
great. But we need adults with trucks and trailers."
At the conclusion of the clean-up, work teams will
return to the staging area for food and music.
In addition, the Sikeston's compost site will be open
Oct. 20-21 for those residents wanting to drop items
off.