Approximately 150 people volunteered their time and talent to local causes when the Sunflower Diversified Services Aktion Club recently hosted a state conference in Great Bend.

            Sunflower’s Aktion Club hosted the annual meeting at Walnut Bowl, and discussed current and possible future efforts to help their neighbors.

            The non-profit agency serves people with developmental disabilities and delays in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.

            “Our goal is to continue to find ways to give back to our communities,” said Amanda Urban, Sunflower’s training/advocacy coordinator. “This is our whole focus.

            “Our state conference is a great venue for sharing information about our local projects,” Urban added. “And it is always enlightening to learn from our peers across Kansas as they share their ideas.”

 Approximately 20 people volunteered at the Central Kansas Dream Center and Hungry Heart Soup Kitchen. Another 20 reported for duty at Great Bend's Brit Spaugh Zoo.

Others participated in an awareness walk to raise money for Kans for Kids, which supports local children with cancer.

“Sunflower clients and other people with disabilities performed a variety of tasks as they gave back to their community,” Urban said. “It was gratifying for all of us to support these worthy causes.

“Since the community has been so generous with Sunflower, we want to take every opportunity we can to show our appreciation,” she added.

In addition to people with disabilities, about 50 other Sunflower staff and volunteers, and Kiwanis Club members attended the conference. Kiwanis sponsors Aktion Clubs throughout Kansas.

            “We couldn’t do this without our friends from Kiwanis,” Urban commented. “They understand the importance of giving back to their communities and we are always happy to be part of their efforts.”