Community Caring

Community

The past year has presented many opportunities for Barton County residents to reach out as part of a caring community.

Th e COVID-19 pandemic was just the beginning. When events were canceled and even shaking hands was discouraged, people found new ways to come together. And when a vaccine became available, the Barton County Health Department, along with other departments and volunteers, conducted drive-through vaccination clinics.

Rotary Club of Great Bend responded to the COVID-19 crisis with an attention-grabbing display of bright yellow smiley faces and signs to help spread the word that “Vaccines Save Lives.” Th e smiley kits were purchased through a grant from the Kansas Leadership Center, said Lee Musil, Rotary Assistant District Governor and a former Vice President of Rotary Club of Great Bend.

Th e Great Bend Tribune posted all of its COVID-19 news stories online where they could be read at no charge, even by non-subscribers. Th en the Tribune created two Facebook groups. Th e “Great Bend Cares” group is a central location for information related to the pandemic. Th e “Great Bend Connect” group encourages “fun ideas, connections and (positive) discussions.”

Valentine’s Day of 2021 was destined to be a day of caring. Th e fi rst half of the month brought extreme cold weather, even while some Barton County residents were homeless or living in homes without heat. Th at’s when Buzz Birney with Live Like Jesus Today Ministries and Mark Ball with Lasting Life Ministries teamed up to open an overnight warming shelter at 4903 10th Street in the former Ace Hardware building next to Heartland Community Church.

“We had to do something,” Birney said. Th e shelter provided showers, restrooms, mattresses, bedding, food and toiletries for several days. Th e eff ort came together rapidly to meet an urgent need, with addtional support from the Central Kansas Dream Center and local churches.

Also in February, Great Bend USD 428 honored Birney and his daughter Kylee Graves, who works at Lincoln Elementary School, with the ROSE Award, Recognizing Outstanding Service to Education, during the 2020 Christmas season.

USD 428 Director of Teaching and Learning Tricia Reiser said they “provided a phenomenal service to families of USD 428 students. Th ey connected with the schools and others in the community to organize a district-wide giving opportunity that provided students in need with Christmas gift s.” Reiser added, “In their eff orts, they spent commendable time learning about the students and choosing the ‘just right’ gift for each of them. Kylee and her father have a heart for the students in our school community. Th eir example of giving to the community is of the highest measure.”

Another community project resulted in the delivery of care packages to some 250 homebound senior citizens in Barton and Pawnee Counties around Valentine’s Day. Th e fourth-annual Boxes of Love Program was a collaboration among United Way of Central Kansas, Elder-Care Home Services, Meals on Wheels and RSVP/Volunteers in Action of Central Kansas. Many groups donated funds, items or manpower to provide this gesture of a caring community.

In June of 2021, Th e City of Great Bend also showed it cares about its younger residents by conducting Youth Academy, a project that began 21 years earlier. Middle school students spend a day touring city departments and parks, and then joined City Administrator Kendal Francis for an “idea exchange.”

While tried and true events were back in 2021, some residents found new ways to express their membership as part of a caring community. On the morning of Saturday, June 12, 2021, a small army of about 50 community volunteers converged to give the 900 block of Jeff erson Street an exterior makeover. Th e event was called, “Damn it, Do it Day.”

Th e day was the idea of Sara Hayden, president of Great Bend Economic Development Inc., and Ryan Fairchild, co-owner of Dry Laking Brewing in Great Bend.

“In a short morning with a lot of people who care about the community, we can make a big diff erence,” Hayden said. “We hope this is not a one-time thing.”

“Th e idea is to fi ght apathy,” Fairchild said. “If you see trash, pick it up. We are basically taking that to another level.”

Linn Hogg with Volunteers In Action said 43 people were signed up to help but a few more showed up. “I’m excited about seeing the community come together,” Hogg said. “Th ere are people here from all walks of life – all ages.”

Th e tasks for the day ranged from the simple, like lawn mowing and painting, to complex, like replacing siding and repairing doors. Some local contractors also got involved and sponsors helped cover some of the expenses.

“Most people don’t let their property fall apart on purpose,” Fairchild said. Many of the residents assisted simply didn’t have the means, ability or resources to make the needed improvements.

Th ese are just a few examples of our caring community and opportunities to get involved.

Resources for minorities

Great Bend residents Angela Delgado and Venessa Favela helped launch the Minority Resource Network, a resource for people who have questions or concerns about any number of community issues, health and housing, job opportunities, etc. Favela works at the Barton County Health Department and also serves as an English/Spanish translator.

Th e service is open to all minorities and is especially helpful to people learning English, Delgado said.

“If you’re not aware of community resources, you might never fi nd them,” she said. “We’re trying to bridge that gap.”

Questions may be emailed to minorityresourcenetwork@ gmail.com.