Iola is filled with good Samaritans, willing to lend a hand, or a buck, to whatever or whoever needs it, Mike Ford notes.
The key to making such efforts even more beneficial is through collaboration, suggested Mike Ford.
“What we’d like to do is create a conversation between groups,” Ford said at Tuesday’s inaugural Iola Community Organizational Network (ICON) meeting.
“Maybe your group is good at construction, but not at fundraising,” Ford said. “Or maybe you’re good at talking to people, but not good at finding volunteers.
“We hope by partnering with other groups, we can get more done with the community,” Ford said.
Representatives from a dozen or so groups spoke briefly about their missions, past projects and plans for the future.
FORD, who is involved with several groups himself, spoke primarily about Iola’s Community Involvement Task Force/PRIDE Committee, which started around 2005 by a group of citizens “looking to have a little more say.”
Since then CITF/PRIDE has taken on several projects, including remodeling the football stadium at Riverside Park, overseeing construction of a nine-hole disc golf course, providing paint for buildings at Riverside Park, painting several downtown storefronts, adding plaques and information signs about those historic downtown buildings; and hosting a “Support The Blue” picnic to support local law enforcement.
The group’s major project now is to place large flower pots around the courthouse square and along Madison Avenue in downtown Iola.
Ford said CITF/PRIDE has about $5,000 in the bank to purchase 26 34-inch by 34-inch pots, and an additional five-foot-tall “flower towers.” He estimates another $3,000 is needed, not counting the costs for the dirt and flowers themselves.
“If you’ve ever driven through El Dorado, you’ve seen the huge, beautiful flower pots,” Ford said. “We’d like to create that in Iola.”
Ford estimates the pots, designed so that they need to be watered every 2½ to three weeks, will not need to be drained over the winter, either, he said.
Donna Houser, one of CITF/PRIDE’s mainstays, talked more extensively about the stadium upgrades.
“We’re looking for volunteers for pressbox repairs,” she said. “Last year, we put a brand new roof on a worn-out building.”
She’s hoping to enlist a team of skilled carpenters, men or women, who could help with the press box.
TIM THOMPSON, representing Iola Elks, spoke primarily about the group’s activities, from the July 4 fishing derby and fireworks displays; a plethora of youth activities, such as the annual Hoop Shoot contest; free bean feed for Iola’s annual Veterans Day celebration; and donations to other groups, such as Hope Unlimited.
“We’re involved in the community, and the community’s involved with us,” Thompson said.
Thompson touched on grant opportunities through the Elks National Foundation, and working with other groups to apply for additional grants.
HOUSER represented three other organizations.
The Molly Trolley, which serves as a money-maker for the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce, is in dire need of being replaced.
“It’s worn out,” she said. “It was almost worn out when we bought it.”
The problem, Houser continued, is money, or lack thereof, even though the trolley brings in revenue because of sponsored trips or private rentals, such as weddings.
“”It’s good for business,” she said.
The Allen County Historical Society needs volunteers, of any capacity, Houser added.
“We really need docents,” she said. “You can be able to do something, or you don’t have to be able to do anything.”
“We do not make you come in every day,” she said. “It’s all volunteer. If you come in once a month, that’s great. If you want to lead tours, that’s fine. If you like to do paperwork, that’s fine. All you have to do is be able to breathe and walk.”
Houser also is on a local group of retired teachers who do things like purchase books for children, fund scholarships and help groups like Hope Unlimited.
TWO SPEAKERS talked about local efforts to combat poverty.
Iolan Joe Hess suggested a poverty services team to work closely with the impoverished, but offer more than just handouts.
The proposal segued perfectly into Tracy Keagle’s presentation about Humanity House, which focuses on helping others.
“A lot of people think all we do is hand out money and food,” Keagle said. “Actually, we’re taking a holistic approach to battle poverty. We know if you’re willing to walk through our door and ask for help, then we’re willing to help.”
Two caseworkers meet with families on a regular basis and collect data with the hopes that those being assisted can improve their lots in life, “so they don’t have to come back.”
“We’ve gotten people jobs, found them medical and dental treatment, found them hope,” Keagle noted.
Humanity House also offers a vast array of classes, from learning how to set a budget to trying your hand at playing guitar.
Keagle estimated more than $12,000 has been spent in assisting Iolans with their utility bills.
“All that money has to be raised,” she said.
Humanity House will sponsor a “Mother’s Day Unplugged” event in May, in which attendees are forbidden from carrying cell phones.
Keagle also will approach the Iola City Council about getting swimming pool day passes for youngsters who earn A’s on their report cards during the school year.
“We’re going to have more fundraisers, a bigger Christmas light display, bigger Santa’s Toy Shop,” she said. “We just need money.”
TOM NEVANS spoke about the Veterans Day Committee’s annual efforts to organize an annual parade and other activities each November.
Unlike past years, in which a distinguished veteran delivers a keynote address, the 2017 Veterans Day ceremony will focus on family members.
“This year, we’re asking family members to tell what they went through while their loved one was serving overseas,” Nevans said.
The group meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Townhouse West Apartment complex.
“If anybody’s interested in helping, we’d be glad to have you,” he said.
The Veterans Day Committee also continues to raise funds for a tile replacement project in front of the Veterans Wall.
“We’re trying to design them so they won’t break as easily this time,” Nevans said.
THE IOLA Kiwanis Club oversees myriad projects annually, Roger Carswell said.
Just recently, the club purchased sporting equipment for fifth-graders to use at Iola Middle School.
Kiwanis also helps with Boo Bash, a local Halloween celebration, and offers up train rides, occasionally as a fundraiser, but primarily as a community service.
A few years back, Kiwanis worked in league with the Mothers of Miracles for a fully accessible playground apparatus at Riverside Park.
“We raised an incredible amount of money,” he said. “We’d like to put in additional equipment.”
Kiwanis also is considering adding amenities to the Lehigh Portland Trails complex or Elm Creek Park, such as a camping area, restrooms, watering station or activity area.
GARY MCINTOSH, on behalf of Your Community Foundation, spoke about the two types of donors who allow the foundation to benefit other local groups.
Legacy donors are those who bequeath money to civic or charitable groups through the Foundation.
Foundation Ambassadors, meanwhile, work with others so that they can “give money wisely,” McIntosh explained.
“Our goal is to be sustainable,” McIntosh said. “How we do that is to create a legacy group.”
In simple terms, a community foundation is a civic bank account, with a long-term goal of enhancing the quality of life locally by supporting various charitable and non-profit organizations.
Currently, Your Community Foundation has accounts for 28 local groups, ranging from Farm-City Days and Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF) to the Allen County Regional Hospital Equipment Fund.
In addition, YCF has 10 endowment funds, from which only interest on principle is used to purchase goods, to ensure its perpetuity.
ALLEN COUNTY Crime stoppers meets once a month to discuss ways to provide cash incentives for those willing to step forward and provide information about unsolved crimes.
“Contrary to what some believe, we do not solve crimes,” Donna Culver said. “What we do is facilitate tips from the community to the proper law enforcement entity.”
Tips can be made through a toll-free number, text or a P3 cell phone app.
Crime Stoppers recently acquired a pair of information kiosks, one of which is by the Walmart exit. A second one will be shuttled between Iola City Hall and the courthouse, depending on which day court is in session.
“What we’ve found is there’s a coincidental time frame between when tips come in and when court is in session,” Ford said.
Crime Stoppers, which worked in league with Thrive Allen County in years past on the Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run For Your Life, announced earlier this year that both groups have agreed to discontinue the run.
Since no other groups have stepped forward, the run is now canceled, Ford added.
BILL MANESS spoke about Thrive’s efforts to assist other groups following Iola’s Downtown Summit in February.
Three committees, the infrastructure, marketing and recreation/events committees are huddling to discuss potential projects.
The infrastructure committee is looking at things such as bike racks, flowers, benches, “anything to make downtown more inviting,” he said.
Maness praised the local groups.
“Several of us are involved in multiple organizations,” he said. “Each of our organizations is effective in its own right. Collectively, we can make an even bigger splash.”
RYAN SPARKS talked about his Grow Iola website, which lists available rentals and jobs.
“Helping others find jobs or homes has been a passion of mine,” he said.
KAREN GILPIN rattled off a list of Rotary projects, such as a youth leadership academy, providing dictionaries and atlases to third- and fifth-graders, respectively, throughout the county.
Rotary also oversees a Clothes Closet effort to provide new shoes and clothes to kids in need.
“A lot of kids come to school and have accidents, or have worn out shoes,” she said.
Rotary also spearheads a bi-monthly paper drive.
Gilpin is eager to see the recycling effort expand, to include aluminum and plastic.
BARBARA CHALKER Anderson wrapped up the discussion by talking briefly about Kappa Alpha’s endeavors — buying gas cards for area folks suffering from cancer or other health issues; donating soup labels and box tops for schools or veterans; collecting new or used coupons for military personnel overseas; and helping with Relay For LIfe, Boo Bash and the Iola Reading Festival.
“My question, is there an overlap?” Anderson asked. Like Rotary, Kappa Alpha also donates socks to schools, for example.
“That’s kind of the beauty of all of us getting together,” she said. “We can find out if we’re all doing too much in one area, and if we should go in another direction.”
Ford, who served as emcee, agreed.
He encouraged all who attended to reach out to other groups. “If you’d like to find somebody to partner with, let them know.”
