Keep Whitesboro Beautiful (KWB) and Keep Collinsville Beautiful (KCB) each hosted an Ice Cream Social last Thursday to update their communities on the latest in each organization.
KWB used the social to kick off a membership drive at First United Methodist Church Wesley Hall at 6 p.m.
In addition to hopefully attracting some new members, this free event served as an opportunity to update the community on current and future projects for the organization and inform people about the goals and duties the organization
Guests were treated to scoops of Blue Bell and homemade ice cream and a toppings bar before the meeting officially kicked off.
“Welcome to our Ice Cream Social!” KWB Vice President Rhonda Ross said. “The ‘scoop’ is, we want to get bigger and be able to do more. A few people doing all the work isn’t sustainable – we need more members.”
Membership is currently half-off and members can be as young as 16 years old. Membership for those ages 16-18 is free, and working with KWB can count toward volunteer hours for college applications.
KWB President Michael Ross gave an update about the plans for the Governor’s Community Achievement Award (GCAA) the organization won in June, which included a $110,000 grant to improve a state highway in town. The project is to be completed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
KWB has formed a committee of city officials, KWB members and community members to identify potential areas in town for the improvement project. These include Highway 377, Highway 377 Business and Highway 56.
At this point, the group is leaning toward the area in town where Union Street dead-ends into Hwy. 377 (near Bynum Eye Care and Dollar General). Two committee members have met with TxDOT and are currently looking at any possibility for future expansion in that area.
“The last thing we want to do is invest this grant money into a project that, a few years down the road, has to be bulldozed up,” Michael Ross said. “We want to make sure we make the most of this money.”
Once the committee confirms the location of the project, the group can begin to work on the design.
Michael Ross also recounted the recent trip to Austin that KWB members and city officials took to attend a special reception honoring all GCAA winners. The event was held at the Governor’s Mansion, where First Lady Cecilia Abbott took time to meet with each winner and later presented them with their awards. Passionate about Texas philanthropy (or “Texanthropy” as she calls it), Abbott is a huge supporter of the mission of KWB.
In addition to the award and the grant, GCAA winners also received a plaque, which Michael Ross said will be installed at the site of the GCAA project before completion.
Rhonda Ross updated meeting attendees about the organization’s Adopt-a-Pot program. Downtown merchants donated money toward pots and plants for Main Street. KWB has placed them in front of downtown businesses who have agreed to water and maintain their upkeep in an effort to help beautify downtown Whitesboro.
Rhonda Ross also let people know that KWB has recently worked with Your Neighbor’s House, a local food pantry and thrift store, to provide help with landscaping at their facility in the fall.
“KWB wants to help someone who is constantly helping everyone else,” Rhonda Ross said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Next, the Rosses let those in attendance know that KWB is seeking community feedback for future project focus.
“KWB is all about making Whitesboro beautiful, and one of the beautiful things about this town is the quality of life,” Michael Ross said. “We want to hear from you. Are we headed down the right path? What other things can we be doing in the Whitesboro community? What areas should we focus on in the coming year?”
If ideas fit within the scope of the organization, KWB wants to hear about them.
“Think big,” Rhonda Ross said. “Anything is possible! Is there a park area we should focus on? Is it a splash pad for our local kids? What can we do this fall that would be the right thing for the community?”
Anyone with ideas or suggestions can email, call or text any member of KWB.
Meanwhile, on the same night, KCB held its 11th Annual Meeting and Ice Cream Social at the Collinsville Community Center. A brief meeting welcomed new KCB board members and summarized the group’s annual status.
Following a decade of tradition, a table of homemade ice creams was served to about 30 members, family and community guests. As the audience enjoyed ice cream, KCB president Betty Graham narrated a screen presentation of photos showing the organization’s history, specifically highlighting the year-round projects that enhance life in Collinsville.
Concluding a question and answer period, Graham pointed out that KCB’s Mission Statement, “Together we can make a difference,” refers to “volunteers who love our town, working to make it better.”
Information on joining KCB can be found on their Facebook page.
Marilyn Stokes contributed to this article.