Community Partnership of the Ozarks (CPO) has renamed its Springfield Tool Library, the Laverne Schell Tool Library in honor of the late Laverne Schell, a beloved and dedicated volunteer who was committed to CPO and its mission to create resilient children, healthy families, and strong neighborhoods and communities. CPO hosted a renaming dedication with Laverne’s family on Nov. 26, 2024 at the O’Reilly Center for Hope, 1518 E. Dale.
The Tool Library, located at the Center for Hope works like a traditional library but lends tools instead of books. It’s a great resource for people who need home repair or gardening tools but can’t afford them or don’t have the storage space.
Schell, who retired from AmeriPride Services after 43 years, discovered CPO through Springfield’s Give 5 program, a free “civic matchmaking” program that connects retirees with meaningful volunteer opportunities. Schell immediately connected with CPO as a trusted leader for solving issues and devoted much of his time to volunteering. This included building the much-needed original Tool Library shed that was used to store tools and equipment for the program.
After Schell’s passing in July 2024, CPO wanted to honor the time, commitment and passion that Laverne gave to CPO.
“Laverne was special. He fell in love with the work we do at CPO and took our mission to heart. He spent countless hours volunteering his time and his talents and became a part of our CPO family. He made a difference and will be missed by many. This is just a small way to honor his exemplary commitment to making our community better,” said CPO President/CEO Janet Dankert.
To learn more about the Tool Library, visit CPOzarks.org. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the Get Involved section of the website.