Volunteers can show they care for their community by pitching in, cleaning up

Saturday, May 28, 2016
Some of those involved in the upcoming Love Your Neighbor event, which is bringing together volunteers in the community to clear dozens of lots in Sikeston on June 4, review a map of the blocks where work will take place. Pictured from left are: the Rev. Richard Stout, the Rev. Kenny King, Sikeston Director of Public Works Jay Lancaster, and Mari Ann Moyers with the Spread the Hope Now Organization. Jill Bock, Staff

SIKESTON -- Jay Lancaster surveyed the lots with trees sprouting in clumps and overgrown bushes and weeds and was unhappy. He knew the neighbors were equally unhappy with the unkempt areas.

Unfortunately, according to Lancaster, Sikeston's director of public works, it is a problem he sees along several streets in the community.

"Over the last 10 years we have seen the amount of lots that the city has to maintain rise from what we expected to be a small number to over 300," Lancaster said. "With our resources we have not been able to maintain them to the level that we and everyone else would like."

So Lancaster approached Mari Ann Moyers and Regina Guthrie, two of those involved with Spread Hope Now organization which last fall as part of Change the World helped demolish a house and clean up an abandoned lot on Delmar. He asked if they could bring together volunteers, businesses, churches and organizations to partner with the city to try to make improvements to those areas.

Spread Hope Now readily agreed and has organized Love Your Neighbor, an event scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4. The group is hoping to gather enough volunteers to clear some 40 lots.

Lancaster said cleaning up the lots will not only make the places safer for children to play but will reduce crime by giving criminals fewer places to hide.

"We are excited about it," he said on behalf of the city officials. "We hope the residents embrace it and one block at a time we can spread hope."

While it will be a day of work, it will also be about building relationships within the community, Moyers said.

"I hope it is an atmosphere of fun where we all work together and get to know each other and build relationships that last," she said.

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