Houston’s annual entry for the Missouri Community Betterment contest has been finalized.
The community will present before judges Sept. 4 for two hours on Zoom, said Elaine Campbell president. It is the 37th year Houston has participated. Two local groups — Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston and Houston High School Y.O.U.T.H. (Youth Organization Understanding Today’s Houston) — will present. Each community is limited to five projects, and the youth may have two projects completed or in progress for last year.
Here are the community’s entries and presenters before judges:
•Best Engaged, “The Imagination Library,” Ann Tottingham.
•Best Use of Volunteers, “Fantastic Reasons to Walk and Ride,” Kay Jordan.
•Best on a Budget, “Fostering with Faith,” Jim McNiell.
•Best Use of Community Assets, Houston Community Foundation, Ross Richardson and Jim McNiell.
•Most Heartfelt, construction of a new 7,200 square foot library in Houston, Brad Gentry.
•Y.O.U.T.H, Most Heartfelt: “Fostering with Faith” and best youth leadership, the community Easter Egg hunt, Crystal Ford and Houston High School students.
After judging by two statewide judges, John Robinson III and Darla Hauge, the scores will be calculated to determine awards presented at the state conference Oct. 21 in Jefferson City. Houston has won “Community of the Year” Award in 2004, 2017 and 2020.
GROUP’S EFFORTS IN HOUSTON
Members of Community Betterment and Arts Council are Phil and Linda Bailey, Emily Bailey, Kay Jordan, Judy Rouse, Jim and Wilda McNiell, Bennie Cook, Ann Tottingham, Delbert and Elaine Campbell, Shannon Nunnery and youth leader Crystal Ford. Anyone who would like to be a part of the group can contact Elaine Campbell.
The organization participates in Houston’s “Good Neighbor Day,” youth programs, “Stuff the Bus,” which provides back-to-school items to the school district; a kindergarten bicycling program and provides two $500 scholarships for Houston seniors. The group organized in 2009 and sponsored the Imagination Library that provides books for younger students in the Houston School District. It later worked with former State Sen. Karla Eslinger during the last legislative session to roll the program statewide. The effort was successful and founder Dolly Parton recently appeared in Kansas City as it expands statewide.
Since 2009, the local organization served more than 3,850 children with approximately 46,200 books, costing around $40,000.
Y.O.U.T.H. continues a food backpack program started in 2018. It provides 45 children with food who otherwise might not have it over a weekend. The project costs about $250 weekly and is supported by donations and students completing fundraising projects. The food for the students is purchased on Saturday, and the students work all work to pack sacks for the students to take home on Friday.
The program is appreciative of churches and individual donors who help with the weekly purchases. Over the year, it costs about $8,000 to provide for 45 students.
More students could be helped if the monies are provided. As the school year starts, students have $1,750, which will last for seven weeks. If anyone would like to contribute, contact Elaine Campbell at decamcoinc@yahoo.com.