Throughout February, Bristow came together through individual efforts of community service, building a better community one act of service at a time.
Individuals from a multitude of backgrounds and entities served our community and the surrounding area. Current and former employees of Bristow Public Schools, Bristow Social Services, the Montfort & Allie B. Jones Memorial Library, and local business owners, as well as individual members of organizations or organized groups including the Bristow Historical Society, Creek County Community Partnership, VFW Auxiliary, local church groups, Rotary Club of Bristow, Creek County CASA, members of Facebook group Bristow Community Connection, City of Bristow leaders, and other community members, groups, and families all chose community service activities to grow and build a healthier community.
Acts of community service during February included serving and advocating for children with CASA, conducting research, cooking meals for others, advocating for patients, shopping or delivering goods for elderly and disabled within the community, removing litter from public spaces, sharing educational materials, collecting or delivering donations, volunteering at Bristow’s inaugural recycling partnership with Replenysh, creating activities for children, making brochures, taking photos, and serving in a vast array of additional areas.
Voluntary community service appeals to many who wish to contribute to a more positive, healthier life and environment for others. Choosing to change or influence any community in a positive, healthful way is as simple as taking action to improve or aid any part of community by providing a free service. We may choose to serve alone or with a group. We may opt to serve in a single capacity or several. We may serve for 10 minutes or 10 hours. The only requirement is that we serve free of charge or compensation.
If you are interested in performing community service, try it! It is as simple as removing (and of subsequently properly disposing) trash while walking, collecting donations for a charitable event, or as complex as tutoring or joining a formal organization. Whether we serve alone or with others, the summation of our efforts validates that we are better together. We will do better because we are better together.