The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

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  • Hope Bentley and Sierra Sparks, sophomores at Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Kan., team up this week to water trees recently planted at Cunningham Park in Joplin’s tornado zone. The two were part of a group of volunteers associated with Catholic Charities of Kansas City- St. Joseph. GLOBE | ROGER NOMER

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June 6, 2012

Catholic charity joins forces with cyclists to take on volunteer work in Joplin

By Roger McKinney news@joplinglobe.com

About 150 volunteers associated with Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and with Cycling for Change joined forces Wednesday in a day of service.

They were joined by 10 volunteers from the Joplin Catholic Charities office.

The Cycling for Change team left Sunday from Kansas City and rode into Joplin on Tuesday.

Maura Taylor, executive director of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, said part of the reason for the bicyclists’ trip is highlighting poverty.

“So many of the people who are still in need are those who were struggling even before the tornado,” Taylor said.

Kathie Conwell, who does public relations for Catholic Charities, made a short statement in Cunningham Park before the volunteers received their work assignments.

“What a difference a year makes,” she said. “It was gray then. It’s green now. Houses are built. Swimming pools are open. Businesses are open. That’s what thousands and thousands of volunteers and hard work and determination can do.”

The volunteers included a mix of adults and high school students on summer break.

One of those students was Shawn Russell, 15, of Raymore. He was with bicyclist Steve O’Neill, of Kansas City, watering the trees in Cunningham Park. Russell said it’s a small gesture, but it’s worthwhile.

“Even if you feel like the job you’re doing isn’t important, it’s making a difference,” Russell said.

O’Neill said he wanted to take part in order to help out and to draw attention to Catholic Charities.

Other groups of volunteers worked on a retaining wall or in a distribution warehouse. Another group was at the house of Sharon Howell on Wimer Court. Howell took refuge from the tornado in her tub with her little dog, Penny Lane.

She said her insurance company paid for most of the repairs, including replacing the roof, windows and siding, but workers left undone caulking around the windows. That’s where Wednesday’s volunteers stepped in.

“Everybody’s just been wonderful,” Howell said. “Everybody’s rallied around. I just appreciate it so much.”

The volunteers also were replacing a section of siding.

Thomas Maggard, 17, of Kansas City, was among those working at Howell’s house. He is on summer break from school. He said he was pretty excited about the opportunity to help Joplin.

“I’ve been looking for an opportunity to help others on an organized level,” he said.





Work stats



MAURA TAYLOR, executive director of Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, said more than 22,000 Catholic Charities volunteers have been to Joplin since the May 22, 2011, tornado, logging more than 129,000 hours of work. That includes four new houses, with six more in progress. The volunteers also have repaired more than 100 homes.

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