Hundreds of volunteers are needed for the upcoming Oct. 8 Making Magnolia Blossom fall 2016 Big Splash event, during which less than three hours of lending helping hands to area non-profits promises to make a big difference in the lives of many.
Interested volunteers and groups are encouraged to pre-register at www.MagnoliaBlossom.org/big-splash as soon as possible. Check-in will be at the Reynolds Center parking lot starting at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 8, with a brief kick-off event at 9 a.m. Volunteering begins at 9:15 a.m. and will run through 11:30 a.m. For more information or to register by phone, call Deana Taylor at 870-235-4922.
The primary focus for this fall’s event will be to transform the new facility of the Columbia County Senior Meals Service and prepare it to open for services on the following Monday, Oct. 10. The building, formerly Meadowbrook Lodge Nursing Home at 600 Leila Street, is need of much cleaning and preparation, both indoors and out.
For the exterior, tasks will include disposing of trash and debris, weed-eating, mowing, planting flower beds, pulling weeds, and trimming trees. Trash and debris removal will also take place throughout the inside of the facility, along with sweeping and moping, washing windows, preparing the kitchen and dining areas, and possibly moving items from the program’s current facility at 235 Frederick Street.
Volunteers are asked to wear pants and closed-toe shoes. MMB will be providing supplies and equipment, but anyone who can bring a mower, chain saw, and/or weed-eaters is encouraged to do so.
The Columbia County Senior Meals Service was established in 2002 to provide seniors 60 and older in Columbia County with nutritious meals. The program operates two centers located in Taylor and Magnolia. Each center serves a hot meal each weekday that qualifies as 1/3 of the seniors’ daily nutritional meal plan. In the Magnolia center, seniors are also provided with activities that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. Some of these include a game room with pool tables, exercise equipment, puzzles, and a library of reading materials. Transportation is also available for those who are unable to drive but want to attend the fellowship at the center, as well as a Meals-On-Wheels service for those homebound.
The program is relocating to better meet the needs of the patrons. Funding comes from the Area Agency on Aging through the Contracted Meals program, grants, the United Way, and donations from local businesses and individuals. Sheila Nash is the director and Cathy McMahen is the chief cook. They have been spearheading efforts, along with family and a few volunteers, to maintain services at the current center while cleaning and prepping the new facility during night and weekend hours.
Other non-profits hoping to be assisted on the Saturday event are the Columbia County Animal Protection Society (CCAPS) shelter and the Second Chance Thrift Store, which benefits the cat shelter.
Between 10-20 volunteers will be dispatched to the shelter for power-washing, trellis removal, landscaping and fence work. One power-washer will be on site, but additional power-washers provided by volunteers would be appreciated.
Around 5-10 volunteers will be sent to help at the thrift store, located behind Sears at the Fountain Plaza Shopping Center. Plans include power-washing, cleaning windows, weed-eating and trash pickup, as well as inside work including moving merchandise, cleaning and sweeping.
Previous Making Magnolia Blossom “Big Splash” events have organized hundreds to make improvements along primary city streets, local business facades, and public areas around the downtown square. MMB is a community-involvement organization at Southern Arkansas University. A group of staff, faculty, and students started MMB in 2014, and more than 500 volunteers from SAU and the community contributed time and effort at the initial Big Splash Saturday event. Since then, MMB has hosted several Big Splash events, as well as several Second Saturday events which partner with area organizations to complete needed projects. MMB has completed dozens of city improvement projects in its first year, and was awarded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission the Volunteer of the Year Award. To find out more or to get involved in MMB, visit www.MagnoliaBlossom.org or like MMB on Facebook.
