Because of the success of the first “Share What You Wear” community free exchange, organizers are getting ready to hold the fall event on November 8, 2008. Individuals can donate gently used clothing, housing items, athletic gear, etc. Volunteers will sort and arrange the items at the Legion prior to Saturday. The open hours will be 8:00 am-12:00 on Saturday.
Our Clean-up Comm. has continued with the clean-up efforts.
Lockridge Lbr. /Hdwe. donated several cases of paint for a sort of Habitat for Humanity donation if our group wanted to use it.
We have an annual comm. festival/car show/antique tractors, so through the efforts of several comm. residents and business owners, we used the paint to help a few families and homeowners who actually could not afford or have the man power to “fix-up” their properties. The efforts were very well received, sometimes all you have to do is ask, and they were very receptive to having someone (or most often a group) come in and help them.
One volunteer in our community painted the curbs around the town square, the City officials allowed her to use the Summer Helper they had hired, and a young man who was serving some community service, so the three of them worked several hours for a couple of weeks painting, trimming weeds and cleaning curbs, that otherwise would probably not have gotten done by the city employees for lack of time, since they had more pressing issues. So all of these things were done before our Festival.
And by a group of volunteers beginning the work, several others joined us, and business owners did what they could to “fix-up” around their businesses, a little paint, fixing windows and awnings.
Our group is continuing our efforts to rid our community of old houses that can no longer be lived in, and not able to be renovated, and a few old buildings on the square that need to come down. We are looking for resources through any form of help that might enable us to work on these issues. I am in contact with Wayne Co. Emerg. Mgmt. on a regular basis to try and keep our efforts moving along.
11 individuals have organized a working group to monitor and encourage the community to continue to make progress in the reduction of poverty. The group has developed an application for community groups and organizations to use to request financial support for projects. The key questions they will use to determine which projects to support are:
· Is it helping those in poverty?
· How many individuals will be helped by this project?
· Is the project sustainable?
· Is this a reputable organization associated with the community?
· Are low income individuals involved in the project?
· Is this truly a need?
The group plans to hold regular meetings and will notify the community through the Seymour Herald when an application period is open. The working group represents many different economic backgrounds and leadership experiences. They are responsible for seeking new partnerships and funding to support the Seymour Horizons project.
Two teachers agreed to provide after-school tutoring assistance to students who were struggling in their class work. Funding was provided by several local individuals and businesses. Subject support was provided in science and math. The sessions were held on Tuesday and Thursday for ninety minutes during spring term. Five junior high students participated. Seymour school district has a high population of students who qualify for free or reduce price lunches.
Members of the Seymour Horizons project have been contributing time to the formation of a county trust fund to address the housing needs of residents. The Housing Trust Fund will be approved by the Iowa Finance Authority as a non-profit organization. They will be eligible for funds from state allocations. A housing assistance plan will be developed and approved. Individuals helping with the document have identified the need for low cost loans to individuals who buy older homes and need to upgrade their energy efficiency or make other structural changes. 30% of the funds provided to a Housing Trust must be distributed to individuals who are at or below the poverty level. The formation of the housing trust fund is a collaborative effort by residents from four Horizons Communities in Wayne County. Support is being provided by state communities’ specialist Frank Owens from Iowa State University Extension.
Seymour’s Horizons group agreed that they would provide funds to continue programming efforts at the Family Resource Center. The group pledged $500 from their Horizons funds to cover the cost of programming, materials and supplies for families. The Center provides parent education, parent support, Parents as Teachers home visits, family violence awareness, grants to preschools and child care providers, child care home consultant and para-professional counseling and Positive Parenting education. The Family Resource Center is open to all parents, many of their participants are single parents and low income families served by the WIC and food assistance programs.
Combination of efforts have put in to play , a Local Food Pantry.
The Seymour Elementary Students donated Food Items to be used in the Food Pantry, giving them the awareness of helping others. They brought the items to our Share Day earlier this spring. Others attending the Share Day donated also.
We have partnered with the Local American Legion Auxiliary, who have volunteered to be available for distribution of the goods one day a week.
The Horizon committee has been seeking a place to house the Pantry , and at this time , have two possibilities. One of the committee members is in the process of getting information from a person in another community on how they run their pantry. We are planning to have a Freezer and add bulk products and fresh produce to our inventory.
A Senior Citizen in the Community, who is also a Retired School Teacher gathered a group of 30+ young people together and did a Great Job of City Park clean-up prior to the beginning of the mowing season. They picked up a load of sticks and branches that had fallen since the 4H Clean-up following the Winter Ice Storms. They also cleaned the curbs and pulled weeds, making a very cleaned area and a very successful Spring Work Day.
The group was treated to Hot Dogs, Chips, Drinks and Ice Cream Cones for their efforts!
The City of Seymour has had a very positive response to the Horizon Group, joining the groups together to continue Clean-uo throughout the community and improve the appearance of the
town. The council agreed to provide the city truck to coordinate with the Horizon group, who are bringing together a group of local volunteers, all ages and income levels, to gather items not picked up each week in garbage bags. The Horizon Funds will pay for dumping at the Transfer Station. We will also, through the local newspaper publish notice of the clean-up, taking names of those unable to bring their items to the truck, and volunteers will pick those items up. We will also make provisions for appliances to be picked up. And the Council is working diligently to rid the properties of junk vehicles.
The City and Horizon are also working together on old homes that need taken down, and properties that are unattended.
Through our Local Newspaper, The Seymour Herald,
we have been able to print articles, publish photos, and
share public information of projects taking place through
the Horizon Project. Staff has been pro-active in recruiting
participants, coordinating activities, and providing a location
for Steering Comm. meetings.