Sikeston, Missouri, Produces a Week Long Neighbor-Themed Party

 


Back in August, I read an article in the Sikeston newspaper about a plan students in Leadership Sikeston had developed to celebrate Sikeston Good Neighbor Week. 

My first thought was: they have a wonderful plan, but the wrong week! 

Back in 2022, the Governor signed a bill creating Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4).  

But when I reached out to organizers, I discovered they had a very good reason to designate Sept. 23-27 as Sikeston Good Neighbor Week.

"We were aware of Missouri Good Neighbor Week and of the dates. However, it was the wrong week for us in Sikeston, said David Jenkins, communications manager for the City of Sikeston. "That week is homecoming week for our high school and the Leadership Sikeston group decided in order to have better participation to move the week up. Our week also coincides with a previously scheduled suicide awareness walk that we are promoting as part of our Mental Health Awareness Day. We felt it was still in the spirit of the meaning."

And indeed, it is in keeping with the spirit of the week. With lots of service projects reported!

As part of the project, Leadership Sikeston decided to focus on different things each day that would be beneficial to the community while helping the community become better neighbors. 

The group took a grassroots approach and passed out flyers to the community to promote the week. Members spoke to local media that involved television, radio and newspaper along with the local Chamber of Commerce.
A Facebook page was also created for the week and was well received with 885 followers in just six weeks. There were 2,400 content interactions and the Facebook page reached 13,378 individual pages.
This year has seen more cities begin efforts to promote being an engaged neighbor as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Cities have signed proclamations, set up websites, planned special events and promoted nominations for good neighbors. Cities like Manchester, Cassville, Excelsior Springs, Ozark, Springfield, Butler and Lee's Summit have all gotten in on the act.

It is too early to say if any of those cities had the same level of involvement as Sikeston, but the report from that city is very impressive!

2024 LEADERSHIP SIKESTON PROJECT OVERVIEW
The following is an overview of the days and what Leadership Sikeston was made aware that occurred.
MONDAY – SUPPORT LOCAL NON-PROFIT DAY
  • Donation drop-offs were located in businesses all over Sikeston
  • Videos from non-profit organizations were posted on our Facebook page
  • Good Neighbor T-shirts were made with $512 in proceeds going to Mission Missouri
  • BMU Jeans Day made $80 for Mission Missouri/House of Refuge
  • Lemonade stand at Edge Realty made $455 for Mission Missouri
  • Thrown Rolls Eating Contest at Cotton Carnival helped raise money for local non-profit organizations. There were 14 contestants and six charities received funds from the contest. You can read the humorous newspaper coverage here.
TUESDAY – GET ACTIVE DAY
  • Free pickleball clinic drew an overflow crowd of 20 or more
  • Sikeston Eagles wore athletic wear to take part in the day
  • Wing Elementary went outside for class and took pictures
  • Mitchell Insurance had lunch on the lawn
  • Sikeston Post had walked to a local park and ate lunch
  • Some Lee Hunter students made a bike bus to school
  • Many individuals took part of all ages getting outside doing activities like pickleball/chalk painting/etc.
  • Sikeston Kindergarten students went outside for class
  • Southeast Elementary went outside for class
  • Leadership Sikeston picked up trash on School Street and encouraged others to do the same
  • Students/Leadership Sikeston/individuals helps Sikeston Parks and Rec spread mulch, paint picnic tables at Lincoln Park
  • Arrow Christian Academy picked up trash in Downtown Sikeston
  • Many individuals did yard work and posted on Facebook
  • Wing Elementary students pulled weeds from their basketball court and picked up trash
  • 988 suicide hotline bracelets were passed out to local businesses to raise awareness of the 988 hotline
  • Videos of encouragement were posted on our Facebook page
  • A Suicide Remembrance and Prevention Walk was held at the Sikeston Complex Lake and attended by many.
  • Montgomery Bank along with Sikeston City Hall and many other businesses wore 988 bracelets
  • Some at BMU wore suicide prevention T-shirts
  • First graders wore green to show support
  • Kids at Cornerstone Daycare wore 988 bands
  • 6th grade class went outside to read
  • Furniture and supplies were donated to Mission Missouri
  • Residents left quarters in carts at Aldi
  • Resident purchased items for an individual moving into a new apartment
  • On Thursday, Sikeston DPS officers went to 2nd grade class and spoke to students about being good citizens
  • Residents paid for coffees and meals of the person behind them in drive-thru lines
  • Sikeston City Hall collected money to adopt a family at Christmas
  • A roll eating contest was held at the Sikeston Cotton Carnival with each contestant raising money for a local non-profit.
"The whole effort has been very well received by the community with a ton of involvement," confirmed Taylor Deere, program director for the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce. 

What I like best about this example is that every member of that Leadership Sikeston team used their strengths and connections to create a part of this overall week. It was a great team effort that I hope continues well into the future for the sake of Sikeston!

MORE INFORMATION

Are you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special privilides and get invited to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.

Comments

  1. THarris7672October 15, 2024 at 6:43 AM

    I’m so proud of the dedication and hard work from Amanda Dennis, she’s an asset to the community, and the municipality of Sikeston. Congratulations to everyone who was involved in making all of it happen ! Great work for the community’s

    ReplyDelete

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