Charles Dunlap|Columbia Daily Tribune
Volunteer Columbia, the city's volunteer program, celebrated a significant milestone Thursday — its silver anniversary.
While the volunteer program began 25 years ago, city departments were using the assistance of volunteers well before then, said Leigh Kottwitz, neighborhood services managerwith the Community Development Department.
Kottwitzand Jody Cook, volunteer program specialist,oversee theprogram.
Volunteers gathered Thursday at Stephens Lake Park for a dinner hosted in their honor ahead of the Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater Concert Series event from the Columbia Community Band.
"(Tonight) is really a treat for me because some of you I have known for a lot of years, but I have met some people for the very first time tonight," Kottwitz said. "We had a lot of volunteers who started with us in the last year and because of COVID-19we communicated by phone."
Volunteers are surveyed each year in January to get their feedback, and they wanted to have an opportunity to come together in 2021, she said.
This is what led to Thursday's picnic.
"We took that feedback and said, 'Hey, we need to honor our volunteers since we didn't do anything last year,' especially since this is a milestone year," Kottwitz said.
More: Ashland Workforce Development Center receives $50,000 boost
Kottwitz, who has been with the city for 21 years, said there are people who have been with Volunteer Columbia since it started and assisted even before the group formed.
"Before we had a citywide program, the city had a volunteer program within our solid waste utility," Kottwitz said. "Even though we are celebrating 25 years, volunteers have been part of city government long before the city had a formalized program."
Volunteer hours up despite COVID-19
Karl Skala, council member and mayor pro tem, was among the officials on hand to give his greetings and appreciation to the volunteers at Thursday's dinner.
"Columbia is unique because it has a dedicated staff to help with volunteers," he said.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers with the city logged more than 25,000 volunteer hours from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2020.
"Some programs actually saw an increase in service despite some of the difficulties we had," Skala said. "Adopt-a-trail, park patrol, park cleanup,adopt-a-spot and household hazardous waste volunteers were on the job in spite of the hardships."
Volunteers kept plugging away at their various service areas, despite some service reductions in the past year, Cook said.
"We put in measures to stay safe. You all still wanted to serve your community and we made it work," she said. "To be the staff that make sure the environment is right for you guys to succeed, to make our community what it is, means a lot to me.
"You really were a bright spot in my COVID year."
More: Evaluating Columbia's pay-as-you-throw trash program after six months
What volunteer opportunities are available?
Those seeking a chance to volunteer with the city can call573-874-7499 or visit the volunteer program page on the city’s website.
Many volunteer programs relateto keeping neighborhoods and other areas clean. This can include adopt-a-trail, adopt-a-spot for beautification or litter, or Cleanup Columbia. Volunteers can also make sure people are staying safe in parks or on trails.
Volunteers also help with household hazardous waste drop-offs.
Additionally, there are coaching and teaching opportunities, or volunteers could be decision-makers by serving on a board or commission that makes recommendations to the Columbia City Council.
More: Here are the five main objectives in Columbia's newly adopted strategic plan
Volunteers share what they do
Glenn Brinley and Judy Bock are a husband and wife team of volunteers who help with park patrol.
"I report any maintenance issues," Bock said.
Park patrol can be as simple as smiling and acknowledging park guests, Brinley said.
Will Green also does park patrol along with adopting part of the MKT trail. He started volunteering early last year, he said.
"I kind of keep the limbs off the trail because I ride the trails myself," Green said. "I like to make sure I don't get slapped in the face by a limb down on the trail there."
Volunteers combine their efforts to keep Columbia beautiful, he added.
"You are proud of the little spot you do," Green said. "I adopted the Hindman Junction right there at the Katy Trail."
More: Columbia turns 200, celebrates bicentennial at Flat Branch Park
This junction with the MKT Trail may be the only part of Columbia that a cyclist sees, so Green wants to make sure it stays nice, he said.
"That is why I do it:to make sure the trails look good and are well-kept," Green said.
The condition of Anne Wood's street near Hickman High School is what drew her to volunteering and adopting her street.
"I am not angry when I do it. I think you cannot do it if you are angry," Woods said. "You just have to do it and say, 'It looks so much nicer when it is done.' It is a creative act."
Woods moved to Columbia within the past year and already was volunteering in her community in Bloomington, Indiana, before she moved here.
"(Volunteering) is a great way to meet people and it is a great way to make the city a little more beautiful," she said.
She was turned onto Columbia's volunteer program by longtime volunteer Peter Beiger, who also does adopt-a-spot cleanup. He doesn't go anywhere without the special orange adopt-a-spot trash bags and handed some out to the people at his table.
"When we walked from his house (to the park), we each had a bag," Woods said.