City of Columbia

May 2011 Volunteers of the Month Alpha Phi Omega

 Our May volunteers of the month have taken “spring cleaning” to a whole new level, and fall and winter for that matter! The volunteers of the month are members of the Mizzou Beta Eta chapter of Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a national co-ed service fraternity. The men and women of APO have spent several hours, rain or shine or ice and snow, helping to collect trash and debris from our local streets water ways over the past two years.

APO members are standout volunteers for their unconditional dedication. Stormwater Educator for Columbia Public Works, Mike Heimos, brags, “[APO] is a great group of young men and women, who show up no matter what the conditions. This past year they cleaned Rock Quarry Road twice with the Public Works Street Department, both times walking the full length of the road and picking up trash before it went into the Hinkson Creek in freezing rain and ice cold temperatures!” 

Volunteering has obvious benefits for our community, but it also has wonderful benefits for our volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to meet people with similar values and passion for helping others. APO recognizes that college is a time to meet others who may change their lives completely. Members focus their energy on volunteering but are encouraged to volunteer in groups to help foster lasting friendships.

Written by volunteer Brittany Perrin