Indian Mound volunteers included Kay Hopkins, Missy Jones, Jimmy Fitzner and Sarah Kaldenburg, who spoke with residents and collected trash along the 100 N. block of Lawn.

Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Healing House KC provided nearly 200 volunteers that collected trash, including this group working along the 100 N. block of Chelsea.

Cleaner residential streets and the chance to connect with neighbors brought members of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association (IMNA) out on Saturday morning, April 4. Along the 100 N. block of Lawn Avenue, volunteers filled City-provided “blue bags” with food wrappers, bottle caps and other trash in a focused effort to impact an area adjacent to Gladstone Elementary School (335 N. Elmwood Ave.).

Through a partnership with MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault), neighborhood leaders identified this block last year and participated in an assessment to identify safety and crime issues based on CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design).

Principles of CPTED can help residents and neighborhood leaders identify opportunities for 

Improvement, actively engage with neighbors and strengthen existing violence prevention initiatives. Assessments gauge an area’s levels of safety through visibility (outdoor lighting and maintained landscaping), signage and landmarks, property maintenance and sense of community.

Healing House volunteers joined for a Prayer Circle at 4505 St. John Avenue before heading out to collect trash on Saturday, April 4.

Located between St. John and Scarritt avenues, this block of Lawn was chosen for the variety of residents and occupants,which includes older multi-family housing, along with single family homes that are both tenant and owner occupied.

This trash collection sweep was coordinated to take advantage of the Third & Fourth District Neighborhood Cleanup, which placed trash collection vehicles in area parks for easy access.

Partnering with IMNA, Healing House KC provided 175 volunteers that took to the streets with blue bags, covering an area within the Indian Mound neighborhood, from Jackson Ave. to Van Brunt Blvd., and Independence Ave to Gladstone Blvd. The Healing House team also provided trucks to collect full bags and drop them off at the collection sites.

City workers and other volunteers enjoyed donuts and bottled water offered by Bobbi Jo Reed, founder of Healing House KC.

Bobbi Jo Reed, CEO and founder of Healing House KC — a faith-based substance abuse recovery program — delivered donuts and bottled water to City workers and volunteers to thank them for helping keep the neighborhood clean.

IMNA President Jimmy Fitzner offered thanks to all the volunteers involved on Saturday, stating, “Indian Mound Neighborhood Association is so thankful for our neighbors on this block (Lawn Avenue) and our partners at Healing House; they are always there when we need them the most.”