Program cleans city lots

By Staff
Melissa Cason
Drive south on Washington Avenue in Russellville, and you'll find the scenery to be a little different along the street as the owner of a local trailer park is working to clean up the property.
Disciples of the Russellville Dream Center are working to help property owners Linda and Tracey Underwood clean up the property.
Dream Center Director Shawn Reathford said the disciples have been working on the project for two weeks and will work on the property until the project is complete.
"This is our Adopt-a-block project for the next few weeks," Reathford said. "I expect it to take three to four more weeks to complete."
Reathford said the center was looking for a project to better the community so they contacted the Underwoods about doing renovations.
"We are getting things cleaned up around here," Linda Underwood said.
Reathford said the project is extra special to him and the other disciples at the center because they know what kind of activities have taken place in one particular trailer at the park.
"I used to buy drugs in that trailer," he said. "And so did a lot of those in our program."
Reathford said the trailer known for illegal activities has been torn down and the other trailers are going to be either torn down or renovated to provide decent housing for families.
Linda Underwood said the park has needed to be cleaned for some time and the adopt-a-block program at the center was an answer to a prayer.
Reathford said the center does not charge anything for the labor and work in their adopt-a-block program.
"Helping the community helps teach the people in our program how to give without expecting to get anything in return," he said.
The Russellville Dream Center is now filled to capacity with 35 residents and will be expanding into Winfield.
"We are opening a women's facility in Winfield because we don't have enough living quarters for the ladies here," Reathford said.