County News NY survivors, volunteers ‘pay it forward’ with Mena projects
“Labor Day Weekend” took on a literal meaning for New York City firefighters who survived 9/11 and disaster survivors from around the U.S. who converged on Mena the first weekend of September. A volunteer organi- zation born out of the ashes of Sept. 11, 2001 helped coordinate a major volunteer service event as a way to commemorate the 9th year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 Twin Towers attack and related terrorist tragedies. Te New York Says Tank You Foundation,
working in partnership with Te Polk County Arkansas Long Term Recovery Committee and Te Polk County 4-H Foundation, targeted Mena – devastat- ed by a deadly tornado on April 9, 2009 that killed three people and destroyed and damaged hundreds of homes – for a rebuilding project. “New Yorkers will never forget what
people from Arkansas and small towns all over the United States did for us in the days, weeks, and months following 9/11,” stated Jeff Parness, founder of New York Says Tank You. “Helping to rebuild Mena on the 9/11 Anniversary 2010 is our way of honoring the spirit of volunteerism that united our nation on 9/12.” Te three non-profit groups needed to raise $350,000 in building materials and donations to help rebuild Mena’s 4-H County Extension/Community Center and rebuild the homes of four needy families displaced by the torna- do. Te Community Center will serve as an educational meeting space for 4-H youth, farmers, community lead- ers, business owners, and families, and will include a demonstration kitchen to
teach local youth and adults nutritious and healthy meal planning. Approximately 600 volunteers signed up to help with one of the rebuilding projects. At one point, there were up to 125 volunteers at the community center site, said Carla Vaught, County Extension Agent. Donations are still being sought. Any-
one interested in making a charitable financial donation to pay for building
Polk County Quorum Court member Frank Davis takes a call while volunteering on the New York Says Thank You building project. Davis secured donated lumber for the 4-H Center Building and then cut it into studs for the project.
materials and the
New Yorker Pia Hoffman “pays it forward” in Mena. Pia is a heavy equipment operator and did extensive work at the Ground Zero World Trade Center site following the 9/11 tragedy. NYSTY Foundation uses the annual com- memorative build as a healing process for the tragedy faced in their own community.
volunteer effort can send
their tax-deductible contributions to “Polk County Arkansas Long-Term Recovery Com- mittee”, P.O. Box 515 Mena, AR 71953. Online donations can also be made at www.
NewYorkSaysTankYou.org and clicking on “Donate Now”. Please specify “for Mena”.
Mena’s 4-H Extension/Community Center is a 2400 sq. ft. educa- tional center to be used for sharing information and various community betterment programs offered through the University of Arkansas Co- operative Extension Service. It will seat around 50 people at tables or around 100 in chairs. It will have wi-fi Internet access and will include a demonstration kitchen to teach things such as food safety, food preserva- tion and preparation, and basics in food and health. It will be used for all ages, from 4-H members to grandparents making diet adjustments due to health issues. Agriculture workshops such as the annual livestock shortcourses, Master Gardener Certification, pesticide application train- ing, horticulture seminars, and committee meetings will be held there.
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New 4-H facility will see widespread use by Polk County community It will also be used by the county for various trainings as needed. Te It will be used by an estimated 5,000
Emergency Services Coordinator is planning some of his volunteer fire- fighter education meetings there.
people a year once it is complete. It doesn't compare to the old one.... we never had one owned by the county for our use. We have always “borrowed” space for activities from the County Fair Association, the Community College, and our local county Farm Bureau. We are very thankful that we will not have to haul our educational equipment all over the county as we educate people! – Carla Vaught
Polk County Cooperative Extension Service COUNTY LINES, FALL 2010
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