Tek Forward announces national service campaign for October

PALMYRA, Mo. — Tek Forward, a local non-profit focused on accessible technical education, recently launched the National Month of Service campaign.

“Too often, when you ask someone for help, they offer you money. We want people to understand that a lot of times, it is your time they are asking for and what they really need. We are all busy, but it comes to priorities.  We need to prioritize helping each other. That’s our aim here. Helping others by giving them our time,” Luis Barnes, Tek Forward’s executive director, said in a press release.

All of October will be dedicated to service.

“We are asking everyone to in October go out to help someone. We want families involved. We want businesses involved. We want people to understand that service to others, helping each other, is the most important thing we can do,” Barnes said. “I must give credit to Quincy University and its alumni association. At the last board meeting, it was decided to move forward with a month of service for the alumni, and I thought, ‘Well, why just the alumni? Why not the entire city, the state, the region, heck, the nation. Let’s get everybody involved!'”

Local businesses already have pledged their support and participation.

“Every year, we at Sturhahn Jewelers, try to find a way to be involved in our community and give back.  It’s our way of supporting a community that has given us so much over the past 113 years.  In the past, we have stocked shelves at food pantries, served food, planted trees, filled hygiene closets for kids and so many other things.  When we heard about the National Month of Service, we were so excited to jump on board and have yet another way to help the members of our local community.  We look forward to seeing all the different types of service that come together to help,” said Sarah Stegeman, co-owner of Sturhahn Jewelers.

“Everybody wins when we focus on what’s best for the community … more on what we can give then get,” says Payne Schoen, owner of Payne Schoen Consulting.

Even local organizations have joined the campaign.

“The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce highly values our community, recognizing that a thriving community is built on mutual support and active engagement. One way we demonstrate our commitment to this value is through volunteering and service. The month of service is a wonderful initiative that embodies this spirit, offering a dedicated time for individuals and businesses to come together in support of our community’s needs,” said Bethany Robertson, marketing and membership manager at the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, go to www.tekforward.org/mos-get-involved.