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The Morning Optimist Club of Marshalltown held their weekly meeting on Monday at the Hy-Vee Dining Room. In the absence of President Sharon McKimpson, Vice-President Diane Hall presided, opening the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. John Hall led an invocation.
Diane Hall requested group input about a date to sign up for Salvation Army bell ringing. The consensus was to choose a Saturday in December at the JC Penney location. Hall reminded members that next week’s meeting will be the Veterans’ Day flag raising, so will meet at the storage shed at 6:30 a.m. She also reminded Board members of the upcoming meeting on Nov. 20.
Leona Huffaker, representing OnMedia and the Shoes That Fit program, was a guest at the meeting to accept the club’s donation for Shoes That Fit. Huffaker encouraged the club to designate that the check go to a local store so that the dollars remain local, since all clothing items will go to local children.
November Program Chair Mark Smith introduced Eileen Mitchell as the guest speaker of the day. Mitchell described her volunteer work in prison ministry through Hope United Methodist Church. She and eight other volunteers work to support ex-offenders as they re-enter the community, coming
from jail and entering a halfway house. A person wishing support must sign a covenant of friendship, which is in effect for one year. During that year, the ex-offender agrees to work with a volunteer in obtaining the services necessary to become a part of the community once again.
Mitchell described several areas of challenge for such persons, including housing, employment, finances, education, friendships and legal issues. According to Mitchell, persons coming from jail encounter biases when it comes to finding housing and jobs. They must pay $17 per day to stay in the
halfway house, on top of possibly paying fines and restitution. They usually need a high school diploma or a GED to be considered for a job. Mitchell commented that persons from the community can help out by volunteering time and providing transportation for those in the program.
Diane Hall closed the meeting by leading the recitation of the Optimist Creed. The Morning Optimist Club of Marshalltown meets Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. at the Hy-Vee Dining Room. Guests are welcome. The club’s website is at www.morningoptimists.org.