There’s a lot to like about Catherine. She and her husband, Stephen, moved to Bissett about five years ago, and soon after they came, they tried to find ways to help make their neighborhood better. After some searching, she found her way to the Bissett Neighborhood Association where she met other like-minded people interested in helping neighbors get information about all sorts of programs and participate in activities that help people.
But there’s more to Catherine’s story. First, like plenty of other residents, Catherine and Stephen moved here and rented their house. She says a lot of renters think there is no reason to be involved in the neighborhood association. She says she is living proof that the association is a great way for renters to meet others in the neighborhood, to get help in various ways, and to help others if they are so-inclined. She’ll tell you that just because you rent, doesn’t make you any less a resident, and life is better when you’re involved with your neighborhood. For Catherine and Stephen, they got to know others in the neighborhood, and that factored into their recent decision to purchase their home when their landlord decided to sell it.
And the story of giving and sharing with Catherine doesn’t stop there. She knows about the road to recovery from drugs and alcohol and about getting a life back. She is a counselor at the Behavioral Health Group. In addition to other programs, BHG provides a methadone treatment option for those with heroin and opiate addictions. She works with many of their 450+ clients to help them gain the skills, structure and support in their lives to move beyond addiction. She loves her work because every day she has the opportunity to give people hope, respect and caring.
If you come to the monthly Bissett Neighborhood Association meetings, you can generally expect Catherine will be there. She is the secretary for the association, and she loves helping out with the various activities. But feel free to pull her aside if you know of someone struggling with addiction. She knows a lot about various ways in town to get help.
We would love to hear your ideas about the neighborhood and this newsletter. Successful neighborhood associations emanate from participation by can-do people: people who care and think part of being a good neighbor is participating in the community’s betterment. If you have ideas, want to learn more and/or join the Bissett Neighborhood Association, send us an email at BissettNA@yahoo.com, come to an upcoming meeting, or call Pete Radecki at 417-988-1257. Be sure to leave a message if you don’t get through right away and we’ll call you back. We also have business memberships available.