Roundup grant to help disabled children, veterans

For our roundup grant series this week, we head to Rogersville, where a local secret helps those in need get back outdoors.

Diversified Freedom for Disabilities is a local non-profit organization helping children and veterans whose disabilities have made it difficult for them to enjoy nature, such as fishing and hunting. The organization has hosted programs in over thirteen states working with young fishermen for over ten years. It also has built equipment such as automatic fishing poles or other hunting equipment that do not cause much strain on the wielder—all to help those with permanent disabilities who want to get back outside. However, Diversified Freedon wanted to do more for those who needed it and decided to make a park.

"We are developing a piece of property here in Rogersville that is specifically a community designed for people with all kinds of disabilities. Here they will be able to shoot or fish and enjoy the great outdoors." told spokesperson for Diversified Freedom for Disabilities J.P. Sell.

Thanks to donations, the park has been coming together. Still, Diversified Freedom needed more funds to build a few things, including an Activity Building, a flagpole, concrete padding for porta-potties, and an Education Pavilion. Having received a grant in the past, Diversified Freedom for Disabilities applied to Webster Electric and received $10,000.

Sell expressed how thankful he and the organization was to receive the grant. "Webster Electric are absolute rock stars. This grant is the second one we have been able to receive from them. With this grant we will be able to complete getting power to the education pavilion." He continues, "We could not have done this without Webster Electric and the whole Webster County community. I'm from Niangua and have been here my whole life, it's amazing how open- armed and appreciated this community is. We are so blessed and honored to be around here in Webster County."

Construction is being done with plans for the park to be opened in the summer of this year. The park will be less than a mile outside Rogersville, past the Copper Rock Village nursing home. The organization is also working on a website for citizens to check out.

We look forward to the park opening and the future this organization will give to those who want to enjoy all the beauty and greatness of nature.

Join us next week as we wrap up our Roundup grant series for the quarter.