VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: SUMMER 2009

Jerry Shepherd has been a volunteer with KIB since the Spring of 2005, and his involvement has run the gamut – from organizing neighborhood cleanups, to serving as an Adopt-A-Block coordinator in his Eastside neighborhood, to helping with database entry in our offices, to planting trees!

Jerry is truly a jack of all trades, but that does not mean he is a master of none ~ one of Jerry’s talents is that he runs what he calls “obscenely long distances.” Jerry has run a race of 100 miles within 30 hours, non-stop. Most recently, he ran a 50-mile trail run, which marked his 60th marathon since 1997!

Recently we asked Jerry about his involvement with KIB and what motivates him to stay active.

Why did you start volunteering with us? Spades Park and Pogue’s Run is across the street from me and there had not been a clean up there in many years, and I wanted to see it cleaned up. KIB was instrumental in helping me organize almost a dozen other neighborhoods along the park and greenway. This clean up of Brookside and Spades Park and Pogue’s Run greenway became a springboard for me to become active in volunteering on many levels and since there was so much positive energy generated from this experience, I’ve remained loyal to KIB.

What do you get out of volunteering? I’ve learned a great deal about tree recognition and about native plants, but more importantly I’ve met so many like-minded people and we all share the common goal of improving our neighborhoods. It’s a combination of beautification and community engagement and these are vital tools to better the quality of life within our communities.

What impact do you feel that the work has on the community? The impact is almost instantaneous and it continues to grow season after season whether it be plants, trees or friendships.

What environmental/community issue are you most committed to? Why? Crime reduction is an issue very close to my heart. It’s been my experience that beautification is a good component to crime reduction because a clean block is suggestive of a block where people care and people who care won’t allow a criminal element ruin their block and the criminals know this.

What is your favorite tree and/or flower? Why? My favorite tree is the Pin Oak on the corner of Temple and Brookside Parkway South Drive because it’s so enormous, it’s almost ancient but yet it is so timeless. Stop by and take a look at it and you’ll have a new favorite tree.

Why would you encourage others to volunteer with KIB? There are so many opportunities to volunteer for KIB and all are quite simple and make a noticeable difference. Whether it’s Adopt-a-Block, clean ups, tree, tree planting and tree watering, everything makes a positive difference to improving the environment and making Indianapolis a better place for all.