Hays Optimists contribute $10,000 to ARC Park

Hays Optimist members present a check for $10,000 to Sarah Meitner and members of the ARC administrative team.

Submitted

The Hays Optimist Club is proud to present a $10,000 contribution to the ARC of the Central Plains for the accessible park that they are constructing at the site of the Seven Hills Optimist Park.

Twenty plus years ago the Optimists in conjunction with the City of Hays provided funds to build a shelter house and purchase playground equipment for the park.

Optimist members in addition volunteered their time to build the shelter house and assemble and install the playground equipment.

Hays Optimists has been in existence since 1966. Three of the original charter members still regularly attend the weekly meetings. Optimist members in fall 2018 volunteered more than 244 hours to sell Christmas trees and also volunteered their time and efforts to sell raffle tickets. The proceeds of both projects were used to fund 21 different youth projects in 2019.

Funds for the contribution to the ARC project were the result of funds set aside from past tree sale projects. The members knew that at one time there would be a need to make additional improvements to the Seven Hills site.

When the ARC Park project was announced, they voted to use the funds that had been restricted to assist in the fundraising for the project.