Bulldogs in Action

Bulldogs in Action is an annual service event that has several purposes:

  • It gives you a chance to make a difference for others in Kirkville.

  • It starts getting you familiar with the Kirksville community; and

  • It earns points toward the College Cup Challenge!

We know that Truman students like you value helping their communities. This event provides a chance for you to play a role that impacts Kirksville and your College Cup team. Each community site has a set number of students needed to participate in various service projects at that site. The goal numbers are set proportionally to the number of commuter students and people living in each residence hall. To earn full points, your team will need to meet their goal number of volunteers for Saturday morning.

During the All Hall Meeting, Thursday evening, student will learn about Bulldogs in Action and the College Cup. During that meeting the Student Advisor will assist students who would like to participate with signing up for the community site that the would like to serve at.

Saturday morning (August 20th) at 8:30 a.m. You will meet your Student Advisor and walk to the Student Union Building Georgian Room.  There you will meet your service site leader.  There will be donuts, fruit and drinks.  You will receive a Bulldogs in Action t-shirt. After announcements we will take a group picture.

You’ll head to your service site after the picture. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that you don’t mind sweating in and maybe even getting a little dirty. The groups will be back the Student Union Building Georgian Room by 11:45 a.m.  There will be a brief time that the group discuss their experience.

Service Sites:

  • Adair County Humane Society
  • Curtain Call Theatre Company
  • Kirksville Arts Association
  • Head Start Part-Day Childcare Center
  • Kirksville Child Development Center
  • Rural Advocates for Independent Learning (RAIL)
  • Adair County Historical Society
  • Adair County Public Library
  • Adair County YMCA
  • Northern Missouri Futbol Club
  • FLATS Trail Head
  • Missouri Department of Conservation Northeast Regional Office
  • Thousand Hills State Park
  • The Crossing Thrift Store
  • Pantry for Adair County
  • The Salvation Army Thrift Store
  • The Pines Adult Care Center

Site descriptions

ANIMALS

Adair County Humane Society

The Adair County Humane Society provides a nurturing and safe environment for the homeless, abandoned and neglected animals in the Adair County area while ultimately finding loving and nurturing homes for them all. The volunteers will bathe the pets at the shelter.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

ARTS

Curtain Call Theatre Company

Curtain Call Theatre provides quality theatrical productions to Kirksville Missouri and its surrounding environs.  It’s Mission is to function as a facilitator for community theatrical arts, offer a venue for talent to practice and showcase their talents, provide worthwhile theatrical entertainment for community audiences, provide actors, costumes, and direction for the annual Cemetery Theatre, Historical Society, and other organizations that need entertainment for their guest, and to perform mystery theatre fundraisers for other nonprofits.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the theatre building on Elizabeth Street. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the building and explain their program.

Kirksville Arts Association

The Kirksville Arts Association is a valuable resource for artists and the Kirksville community in its promotion of all artistic expression in the Kirksville community. The volunteers will clean and prepare tables and chairs that are used in the arts building for public events.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will walk to the site. They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

CHILDCARE

Head Start Part-Day Childcare Center

Head Start promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services for children and families.  They engage parents in their children’s learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs. The volunteer work will be outdoor only work such as removing weeds from the play area, cleaning the siding of the building, painting tables, etc.  The daycare center will be closed that day and there will be no children present.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the childcare center building on Locust Street. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the building and explain their program.

Kirksville Child Development Center

The Kirksville Child Development Center promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services for children and families.  They engage parents in their children’s learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.

The volunteer work will be outdoor only work such as removing weeds from the play area, cleaning the siding of the building, painting tables, etc.  The daycare center will be closed that day and there will be no children present.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by vehicle to the childcare center building on Halliburton Street. They will meet with a liaison there who will meet them outside and explain their program.

DISABILITIES

Rural Advocates for Independent Learning (RAIL)

Rural Advocates for Independent Living (RAIL) assist persons with disabilities to live as independently as they choose within the communities of their choice.  RAIL offers 5 CORE Services:  Information and Referral Services, Peer Support, Independent Living Skills Training, Advocacy and Transition Services.  RAIL also offers these additional services:  low vision center, personal care products, durable medical equipment and Missouri Telecommunication Assess Program.

A group of 8 students and one site supervisor will be transported by bus to the RAIL building on Jamison Street. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the building and explain their program.

EDUCATION

Adair County Historical Society

The Adair County Historical Society is fulfilling its mission to collect and preserve history of Adair County. The Historical Society has collections of Adair County history artifacts, documents, narratives, and photographs. They can be contacted for research, educational programs, and tours. The volunteer work will be to move and organize various historical artifacts and general cleaning.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will walk to the site. They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

Adair County Public Library

The Adair County Public Library serves people of the county by collecting, organizing, and making available books and materials for their informational and recreational needs. The library will provide assistance in the utilization of these materials through various services and programs. The library endeavors to promote enlightened citizenship and to enrich the personal lives of the people of Adair County.

The volunteers will assist with a “Children’s Fun Day” at the library with some games, craft stations, maybe a photo booth.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

NATURE AND FITNESS

Adair County YMCA

The Adair County Family YMCA is so much more than a gym.  The YMCA offers programs geared to build a healthy spirit, mind and body.  Its programs include and afterschool child enrichment program where K12 students receive homework assistance, and a fun variety of activities in a safe, nurturing environment.  Its programs also include youth development through sports, play and swim programs. The five volunteers will to clean, and organize the upstairs exercise area that includes a walking track, free weights, circuit equipment, treadmills, etc. The work may include painting.  Three volunteers will inventory the food for their food distribution program.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

Northern Missouri Futbol Club

The Northern Missouri Futbol Club (youth soccer) promotes youth soccer with the mission of developing skills, fitness, and a love of the game of soccer.  The program is organized and coached by volunteers in the community who share the same love of the game of soccer. The organization’s fall season will begin in late August.  The student volunteers will help prepare the field and facility for the fall season by painting the lines for the various fields (pitches), putting nets on the goal frames, cleaning the concessions stand, etc.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the soccer fields at Cottonwood and Jamison Streets. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the facility and explain their program.

FLATS Trail Head

The Forest Lake Area Trail System (FLATS), is an all-volunteer community organization that was formed in April 2009 to support the development, use, and maintenance of trails in Adair County. The volunteers will assist with trail maintenance.  This is an outdoor only site.  Volunteers should dress to work with limbs, weeds, dirt, etc.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

Missouri Department of Conservation Northeast Regional Office

The Missouri Department of Conservation promotes a wide range of activities in Missouri’s nature land such as hunting, fishing, natural landscaping, etc. The volunteers will do maintenance at various outdoor areas such as a trail and habitat areas.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will be transported by vehicle to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

Thousand Hills State Park

The Missouri Department of Conservation promotes a wide range of activities in Missouri’s nature land such as hunting, fishing, natural landscaping, etc. The volunteers will do maintenance at various outdoor areas.

A group of 15 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the site. They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program. Volunteers are reminded to wear closed toe shoes.

POVERTY

The Crossing Thrift Store

The Crossing Thrift Store offers affordable merchandise, employment opportunities, and generates funds for public assistance. A group of 15 students and one supervisor will walk to the store on Baltimore Street. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the building and explain their program. Then, the students will be given assignments to change over inventory in preparation for the start of the fall. The store will not be open to the public.

Pantry for Adair County

The Pantry for Adair County (PAC) assists in providing supplemental food for those food insecure residents of Adair County, Missouri.  PAC distributes fresh produce as available, meats, and other grocery products.

A group of 8 students and one supervisor will walk to the site.   They will meet with a liaison there who will explain their program.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store

The Salvation Army Family Store provides quality and affordable items for those in the Adair County community. Items on sale include clothing, furniture, collectibles, books, movies, antiques, and much more. With donations arriving at the store daily, there is always something new at The Salvation Army Family Store. 100% of Proceeds go to support The Salvation Army assistance and outreach programs within the community. The volunteer work will be to unpack and sort a large stack of donations, clean the walls and displays and assist in stocking the shelves.  The store will be closed to the public during the volunteer time.

A group of 15 students and one supervisor will be transported by bus to the building at Lincoln Square Shopping Center. They will meet with a liaison there who will give them a tour of the building and explain their program.

SENIOR SERVICES

The Pines Adult Care Center

The Pines is an adult skilledcare facility owned and operated by the Adair County Nursing Home District, a political subdivision. Representatives from The Pines will come to campus to meet with as many students as we can hold in an available room. The representatives will give them an overview of the nursing home mission and show a video of the facility. Then, they will interact with the students to create a personalized card to be given by a student to a resident at the facility. The Pines and Truman will provide all of the supplies for the cards.