Roachdale sorority kicks off community pride program
Members of Delta Lambda Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority are initiating an effort to encourage Pride in Roachdale.
"We want residents to take pride in where they live," stated Sorority member Bonnie Yahraus to the BannerGraphic.
"We are looking for people who want to play a role in keeping Roachdale a great place to live. We have been lax in this community because we have had so much but with gas prices and other changes we need to think about developing some community related things like Bainbridge and Russellville have done,' advised Yahraus.
"Bainbridge has gotten grants and been proactive in building a community center. We need to think about things like that in Roachdale," she added.
The group wants to help find ways to clean up the town, make it more attractive for the residents who live there and to draw new permanent residents to town.
Invitations have been sent to organizations and businesses in town to come to a meeting at the Presbyterian Church on May 8 at 7 p.m. to discuss ways to bring pride to the town.
Yahraus expanded, "We will break into small groups for about ten minutes then discuss what is good and what isn't in town. This will be followed by a discussion with Jill Rateike from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs."
"Elaine Peck from the Putnam County Foundation will also be there to advise us on grants and other ways to procure money," continued Yahraus.
She went on to talk about how folks in Roachdale have had much more than many small towns with a grocery store, hardware store, barber shop and other retail stores.
"I live outside the town but I only have to drive six miles to get groceries or hardware. If I drive to Greencastle it's 15 miles. With gas prices rising and a changing world, we need to find ways to keep businesses growing locally, and at the same time, develop community programs for kids and families.
The sorority is even having a "Pride" logo made.
"Preserving Roachdale Identity Enthusiastically is our slogan," related Yahraus.
The sorority already does several things to help improve the quality of life in Roachdale including planting flowers in the downtown area and picking up trash along roadways.
"I call us the Poor Sisters of Roachdale," laughed Yahraus. "We are just a small sorority but we believe if our neighbors see one person putting out some effort than another person may join them."
The May 8 meeting is by invitation only as it is a kick-off planning meeting but the group plans to have public meetings later to include all residents.