November Volunteer of the Month – John Allen

John Allen became a volunteer with the City of Columbia while working for Senior Marketing Specialists.

The company adopts a portion of the roadway at Gray Oak Drive for litter pickup. This activity allowed John to engage with his coworkers and get some physical activity. Before long, he quickly became a regular with the City.

John started volunteering at Truman State University in college by organizing American Red Cross blood drives. As an avid donor, he is a member of the seven-gallon club.

John also enjoys being a part of Earth Day 365 in St. Louis, where he has served since 2013. When John is not volunteering, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, learning new things and enjoying a good pizza.

City staff recall John attending a City volunteer appreciation event. Instead of simply enjoying the event, he helped other attendees by staffing the waste station.

It's clear he has a passion for recycling and waste reduction, and was eagerly welcomed to the City's Recycling Ambassador program.

When asked what he had gained from his experience, John stated, "My people." He has acquired friendships and staff connections while educating the community on recycling and waste reduction. He enjoys showing his daughters that giving back is fun, meaningful and a rewarding part of life!

John encourages anyone thinking of volunteering to lean into the discomfort of putting themselves out there to make a difference in the community.

To learn more about volunteering and the Recycling Ambassadors program, visit the Volunteer Programs page or email [email protected].

Article written by volunteer Tara O'Reilly