MFA Oil Company was one of 14 businesses in the Columbia area to participate in the Heart of Missouri United Way’s Day of Caring event on Friday, April 8. The effort brought together 250 volunteers to spend a full day completing service projects at no cost to local nonprofit organizations.
Courtney Daviess, a United Way spokesperson who helped orchestrate the Day of Caring efforts, said she wants people to see this service as a reminder to help those in need.
“The purpose of the event is to draw volunteers all year long. It isn’t just one day in the community, volunteerism is needed all year long,” Daviess said.
MFA Oil had eight employees helping out at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) and ten stationed at The Central Pantry, a service of The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri.
Tammy Spyers, MFA Oil Petro-Card 24 services manager, enjoyed her time volunteering with the CCUA where she and the other MFA Oil volunteers helped with a variety of tasks, including: preparing garden beds for planting, weeding, planting lettuces and chard, spreading mulch and chopping down invasive honeysuckle bushes.
“The staff was very knowledgeable and I felt they utilized the volunteer staff to maximize our efforts to their benefit,” Spyers said. “I was so impressed that I am going to volunteer on a regular basis. I have been gardening since I was a small child and have made it a point to read and take classes throughout my adult life to enhance my gardening skills. But I learned several new things in just one day when volunteering with the CCUA staff.”
Nicole Schepers, MFA Oil credit coordinator, said she volunteered because she appreciates the opportunity to give back to the community. She was part of a volunteer team that divided pasta and popcorn into dishes that could be distributed to families in need who visit The Central Pantry.
“I sincerely enjoy serving and helping others; so really for me it was an absolute pleasure,” Schepers said. “I always encourage others to serve in the community in one way or another. I always leave feeling better knowing that I have helped someone out.”
Spyers shares Schepers enthusiasm for service work and offered similar encouragement to promote volunteerism.
“I am big on volunteering, and always have been,” Spyers said. “Research has found the more people volunteer, the happier they are. Additionally, it’s been proven to lead to better health. Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression than those who do not volunteer.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is encouraged to contact their local service organizations, schools, city government or church to find out how you can make a difference in your community.