Latest news with #ScottClayton
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
General Mills partners with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity on Veterans Build
Workers with General Mills participated in a workday with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity's Veterans Build program, raising walls on a new Webb City home for Navy veteran Janene Houskeeper and her three children Friday. 'Veterans are so wonderful to build for because they served our country,' said Scott Clayton, executive director of Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity. 'We have an opportunity with Habitat that is like no other, to provide an opportunity for a house and to collaborate with local community partners. They gave to our country and now our country is giving back. It comes together so wonderfully.' The General Mills employees are with a group called the Veterans Network, a community made up of veterans and their allies — nonveterans — in the company. They worked to frame the house, raising walls and nailing in supports. 'We're working with our veterans and allies of the company to do what we can to reach out and help the community,' said Jared Sharkey, quality engineer at General Mills. The goal is get out into the community and support veterans, especially in times of need, Sharkey said. Recent projects the group has done include putting American flags on graves at Mount Hope Cemetery in preparation for its Memorial Day ceremony last week. It has several more service projects in the works. General Mills has collaborated with Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity since 2006, when the company helped Habitat purchase a trailer. Clayton said Habitat has done well over 20 workdays with General Mills, and the company has contributed over $300,000 to the program's housing efforts. 'General Mills has been an important partner with us for a long time,' Clayton said. 'Through grants and volunteerism, we've really benefited from our partnership, focusing on veterans. It's come in all different kinds of forms, the good work General Mills has done with us.' Bryan Davis, food safety and quality manager at General Mills, is an Air Force veteran. He said this is the third house General Mills has sponsored with Habitat, providing volunteers and monetary donations of $20,000 for the build. The company has been generous to let the group volunteer on a workday, he said. The last house that employees worked on was a concrete house with Habitat, which was an unusual experience, Davis said. In addition to framing, they often do things such as drywall and painting. 'Working on this house has a special place in my heart because I'm a veteran,' Davis said. 'You always want to give back, especially to veterans in the community. I take a lot of pride in being a veteran and helping those that have helped serve the country.' Davis said he's proud to have a large veteran population at the plant and many allies to volunteer with their projects. Since beginning the Veterans Build program in 2017, Habitat has constructed six houses for veterans. Habitat is looking for more veterans to assist through its new home construction and repair services. For more information, contact the organization at 417-782-6533 or visit Habitat's website at Since 1989, Habitat has built 192 homes in the area and completed over 500 repairs for homeowners. It currently has eight homes under construction and plans to begin two more this year, including its 200th home in Carthage.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Joplin volunteers impact lives with Brush With Kindness effort
JOPLIN, Mo. — Volunteers use today's pleasant weather to make a difference in the community. These workers are part of Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity's 'A Brush with Kindness' they built a new wheelchair ramp and did some light yard work for a homeowner who would not have been able to do the work themselves. These volunteers are from several agencies, including 'Hearts and Hammers' and 'Mercy Orthopedic Hospital and Clinic' in Galena. The volunteers say while they don't get paid for their work, what they do get is worth more than money. 'It's just the way they react. They're so grateful, and nine times out of ten, they're speechless. 'I don't know how to thank you,' and I hear that all the time,' said Todd Brothers, Hearts and Hammers. 'We'd like to do it more. We have a lot of willing volunteers, and one of the best ways to engage with volunteers is through the Brush with Kindness program. Those are lighter, outside repairs that if you can handle a rake, then we could use your help with it,' said Scott Clayton, Joplin Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director of Operations. Since its inception in 2013, 'A Brush with Kindness' has helped more than 450 projects in the Joplin area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
