Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
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MARBLE CITY, OKLAHOMA - Student volunteers from Tennessee and Cherokee Nation volunteers recently spent a week in Marble City cleaning up different sites.

Students from Maryville College in east Tennessee and Cherokee Nation Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) cleaned up yards for elders, cleared and removed brush from the bank building. "I’m so grateful for the college students that came and cleaned up my yard", said Jo Ford, Marble City resident. "It was a tremendous help and the hard work was greatly appreciated."

"I was excited to learn of the college students that were coming to help; I couldn’t believe that I wasn’t going to have to pay", said Ruby Taylor, Marble City resident. "I’m thankful for the help I receive from the Cherokee Nation and I’m thankful that young people take their time to do a service for older people."

In addition to helping community members, student volunteers helped prepare the site for the new Marble City community center. They removed broken glass from the Rainbow House, which is an organization in Marble City that serves families and individuals who are in need of household goods, clothing and food.

"The student volunteers enjoyed seeing the big difference their work made", said Jennifer West, student advisor for Maryville College.

The Maryville College students are part of Freshmen Bonner Scholars program. The Bonner Scholars do volunteer work 10 hours each week and 280 hours during the summer at a variety of non-profit community agencies.

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org