May 7, 2022

By Jessica Cox

Over 75 volunteers from two Lee’s Summit wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints cleaned up the trash along Blue Parkway on Saturday, Apr. 30, 2022 for Global Youth Service Day.

Blue Parkway was covered in so much trash, church members thought it really needed to be addressed. The church contacted MoDot, and received 300 trash bags and 60 safety vests for the project. Alfred Battle of MoDot, said, “We are down 50% of our staff and haven’t been able to get to all the streets, to get them cleaned up”. He was grateful for the help from the community in cleaning up the street. After the clean up, MoDot came and picked up the filled trash bags on the side of the road.

The volunteers worked for 1.5 hours and got both sides of Blue Parkway cleaned up. The vehicles driving on 50 highway kept honking and waving at the volunteers to show their appreciation. Volunteer Todd McCracken said, “The kids did great! Great service project!!!”

The high school youth earned 1.5 hours toward their mandatory service hours for high school graduation. Macie Cox, a youth who volunteered, said, “The road had so much trash on it. I’m glad we could clean it up and help our community.”