CITY OF WYLIE

by Amber Hamilton

Service to the Community - It’s More than a Job

City of Wylie employees take pride in serving the community every day, and that spirit of service takes on special meaning during the holiday season.

In September, city departments were given the opportunity to make "Harvest Boxes" through the Collin County Meals on Wheels program. The boxes, similar in size to a case of printer paper, are filled with non-perishable food items, like canned meats and veggies, simple cleaning products, toiletries, and extras such as dried fruit, postage stamps, or large print puzzle books.

Multiple departments answered the call, purchased the requested items, and added a loving touch by decorating the outside of the boxes with fall decor, bows, and wrapping paper. City staff completed seven Harvest Boxes.

“Partnering with Meals on Wheels is a great thing for City of Wylie staff,” said Nelda Timmons, a city employee. “With it being put on hold last year because of COVID, we were all eager to come back in 2021 to serve the organization and deliver some joy to those in need.”

Timmons added that staff has a good time working together to create the boxes, but the reward comes from delivering the packages to seniors who are often isolated. “We see the same residents every year, and they are always happy to receive a box. It gives us the chance to show our faces in the community and let them know they aren’t alone.”

Serving with Meals on Wheels is not new to Wylie employees. Before COVID, which changed the delivery process, 10 employees served weekly every Friday taking hot meals and a weekend packet to many Wylie seniors.

Asst. City Manager Renae Ollie, who also has a passion for service, encourages employees to get involved. “Being involved goes beyond a face in an office at City Hall. It means you’re not just here to collect a paycheck and that you are vested in the community. Even if you don’t live here, you can care here.”

Ollie is currently the vice president of North Texas Women Leading Government, a board member for Collin County Habitat for Humanity and the Wylie Education Foundation, and is involved with the Wylie Eastfork Rotary Club.

“Volunteering is not only rewarding to others, but it’s rewarding for me,” said Ollie. “I have a passion for serving, and what better place to serve than in my community.”

Meals on Wheels is a national non-profit that focuses on senior hunger and isolation. Go to mealsonwheelscc.org, the Collin County chapter, and see how you can get involved and “give hope to those seniors in isolation through the smiles of each volunteer.”

A Passion for Fire Safety in the Home

by Craig Kelly

Wylie Fire Rescue Captain Ray Jackson took the stage and welcomed hundreds of excited Bush Elementary School students to the final fire education program of 2021.

Firefighters known as the “Wylie Wild Bunch” visited 25 WISD elementary schools, private schools, and daycares throughout October (Fire Safety Month) with a 30-minute fire prevention program titled Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety.

The high-energy, comical presentation emphasized the importance of working smoke detectors, proper use of 9-1-1, developing a home escape plan, and stop, drop and roll. The Wylie Wild Bunch brought smiles to kids’ faces and taught fire safety lessons through the zany antics of Hill and Billy as they looked for clues and figured out riddles while navigating an escape room.

Jackson, who has been a part of the department’s education program for 20 years, talked about his passion for teaching kids fire safety, “We reach more than 7,000 elementary kids with the important message of fire safety and feel strongly that early education prevents fire deaths and injuries with our kids.”

The cast and crew for this year’s production included Brandon Storm (Hill), Zach Hawkes (Billy), Richard Hollien (Jethro the puppet), Brian Moriarty (offstage voice), and Joe Wetzel (sound). Jackson said that it takes months to prepare for the shows, and many people work behind the scenes from set design to day-of-show setup.

Do you know the Sounds of Fire Safety? Wylie Fire Rescue will conduct home inspections, replace detector batteries, or install new detectors free of charge. Do not delay! Wylie residents should call 972-442-8110 to schedule a visit.