Monett Monthly

In September of 1948, while most of Missouri watched the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, the residents of Monett prepared to welcome a special guest.

Sisters Emma Essary, 8, and Ava Essary, 6, gather their school supplies at the Back to School Bash in Monett.

At the Gilmore house at 8th and Scott Streets in Monett, 51 volunteers from churches, businesses and the Monett Area fuller Center for Housing Board of Directors, plus the Kevin and Amanda Gilmore family and their friends, have been working every Saturday morning on building a new home. Work began with the groundbreaking ceremony on July 9. Volunteers are welcome to show up at 7 a.m. each Saturday to lend a hand. Lunch is usually served at 11:30 a.m., when work for the day is completed.

The Monett Area Workshop, now in its fourth year as part of SWI (Springfield Workshop Inc.) Industrial Solutions, recently celebrated its annual Employee Appreciation Day. Employees now number 63, almost three times the number from when SWI took over. Director Rob Walker stressed many whose families thought they could not work now have jobs. “Let us decide,” he said, encouraging persons with disabilities to visit at 204 S. Central in Monett. Employees had burgers as their meal of choice and received certificates for their years of service. Walker, standing, presented a certificate to Kimmie Davis of Monett, who has been employed at the Workshop for 46 years. “Companies understand you are valuable,” Walker told the workers. “Companies count on you. You are the best workshop in the state.”