LAHARPE Its not an easy question to ask your neighbors: Can we clean up your property?
But Sharlyn and Floyd Thompson gathered up their nerve to ask their neighbors that very question last year as part of a joint city cleanup project between LaHarpe PRIDE and Thrive Allen County. The goal was to remove hazardous debris, furniture and appliances to improve safety and the citys appearance.
More often than not, volunteers were turned down. But with persistence, and a little bit of trust, they managed to convince eight out of 26 property owners to allow volunteers to clean their places up.
One man, who initially refused their request, later agreed to allow them to remove two barrels of unwanted items. That was good, Sharlyn Thompson said, but volunteers really wanted to tackle a garage and other areas of the property. They eventually got the garage, which was stacked from top to bottom.
I dont think he could have done all that by himself, Thompson said. When we were done, he came up to me with tears in his eyes and said, I didnt think anybody cared.
The project was one of several resident-led efforts by Thrive as part of a Community Engagement Initiative grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, which earned the county $350,000 between a grant and matching funds whose goal is to empower residents to take leadership roles in their communities. Improvement projects would come as a direct result of their efforts, guided by Damaris Kunkler, projects director, and others at Thrive. They worked with city councils, PRIDE groups and others and found even more grants to pay for their projects.
People link property cleanup to public safety. Theyre concerned about the critters that spread disease and live in abandoned appliances and old furniture.
For residents in La-Harpe, that concern translated to the need for a massive cleanup.
While the city offers residents an annual opportunity to dispose of unwanted items, property owners must dig out the items themselves and haul them to the curb. Under this special cleanup program, volunteers do the heavy lifting. Thats especially beneficial for the elderly or disabled, those who work odd hours or those who simply cant handle the amount of work it would take, Thompson said.
They have pride, too, she said. Theyd say things like, I dont know how it got like this. But especially when youre older, you cant keep up with it like you used to.
Along with volunteers from the PRIDE group and the city, the project brought in students from the University of Kansas and local 4-H members. Thrive helped organize volunteers, paid for rental of dumpsters and provided water and ice for volunteers.
FOR THOMPSON, the quest to clean up the town went beyond a simple desire to help. She felt even more invested in her new hometown, and she wanted to do even more.
Thompson lived most of her life in Kansas City, Mo., and her time was filled with work and family. Though she was active in a small number of service organizations over the years, it wasnt until she and her husband moved to LaHarpe about two and a half years ago that she became more active in community service.
Soon after they moved, she joined a local quilt club and La-Harpe PRIDE.
Because she and her husband are retired, they were able to devote a lot of time to the cleanup project. It gave Thompson a chance to get to know her neighbors better.
She felt motivated to do more. When a vacancy came up on the city council, she asked to be appointed.
