Community Success Stories

LeRoy

Welcome to LeRoy

The first impression a visitor gets from a community is often developed through signage. LeRoy lets you know they are a welcoming community by their “Welcome to LeRoy” signs located at both the east and west entrances. The signs were a joint project of community organizations and the LeRoy PRIDE program.

The city square and park is the heart of LeRoy. A gazebo is located in the center with gardens on each of the four corners. PRIDE maintains one of the corners with a beautiful flower garden and assists with the entrance to the park. Community collaboration made the park changes successful.

The park serves as the location for numerous community events. This past year, following a church revival, PRIDE asked for permission to use the tent to hold a business appreciation picnic. A free meal was provided for the business owners and their families. Local youth performed in a talent show for entertainment

Halloween in the park serves as a safe location for children to trick or treat. Individuals bring their vehicles to the park and line the street on all four sides of the square. Some of the vehicles are decorated to make it more festive. The children, in their costumes, can trick or treat from vehicle to vehicle. Parents feel safe about where their children are and it allows country families to also participate.

Christmas in the park, held on the Saturday following Thanksgiving, is a community tree lighting event. PRIDE purchases 30 to 40 pine trees from an area tree farm and stakes them securely to the ground. The community, churches, organizations and schools each sign up to decorate a tree. At a specified time, all the trees are simultaneously light. There is caroling, refreshments and wagon rides to add to the festive atmosphere. In remembrance of their veterans, a special wreath is placed on the memorial. This event has generated a lot of positive community response and has resulted in greater community participation at other PRIDE sponsored activities.

Once a month, PRIDE “Tips the Hat” to recognize an individual or family for work on their house or yard. It encourages homeowners to maintain their property and beautify their yards. They have also participated in the colorful community campaign by placing door hangers on homes with attractive yards and gardens. It’s their way of saying thank you for making LeRoy a more attractive place to live.

PRIDE also collaborates with the 21st Century Learning Center after school program to work with youth on community service projects. Students have participated in the cleaning the community through trash pick-up projects. This past year, the school district serving LeRoy was forced to freeze its budget for the purchase of school supplies. PRIDE responded to the situation by asking teachers to create a list of their needs and then purchasing the necessary supplies. A similar situation occurred several years earlier when the popcorn machine broke down which was used for concessions. PRIDE was able to purchase a new machine for the schools use. By providing the needed supplies and equipment, the students are able to receive a quality education and participate in fund raising activities which support extra curricular events.

The PRIDE program has made a difference for LeRoy. As they do more activities, it generates greater interest and they are seeing increased membership. With a larger volunteer base, they are able to increase the number of activities and the program continues to grow. Last spring, several members attended the “Benchmarking Your Success Training” in Humboldt. At the training they were able to make contact with the Kansas Department of Commerce and learned about several grant opportunities. The city of LeRoy is excited as they are now in the process of writing a grant to build a community center.

To learn more about LeRoy, CLICK HERE to visit their community website!

 

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