COMMUNITY PRIDE: YOUNG BOOSTS PEOPLE, SCOTT CITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM

SCOTT CITY -- Shirley Young, like the town she represents, is guilty of random acts of kindness.

Young, who currently serves as president of the Scott City Chamber of Commerce, is also a past mayor and city alderman.

She is vice president of the Scott City Historic Preservation Commission, on the board of directors of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association and sings in the choir at Eisleben Lutheran Church. She is vice regent of John Giles Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, secretary of the Conrad Historical Society and on the steering committee for Connect Missouri, a group working for universal access to technology.

Her resume goes on and on. But Young brushes aside compliments on her dedication to Scott City and the other community efforts.

"If I stop to think about all the things I'm doing, I get tired," Young joked. "Really, I wish I could more. It is more blessed to give than to receive. And often, these little kindnesses are the sort of a thing you can pass along. It doesn't cost to be kind. It's an easy thing to do and a fun thing to do."

Young's friend and fellow Scott City booster, Brenda Moyers, said Young does a lot more than most people realize. "Volunteering is her life," Moyers said.

"Most people don't know about her little kind deeds unless they are on the receiving end," Moyers said.

"It's the little things she does that no one knows about that makes her such a special person," Moyers said. "She takes the time to do all the things we talk about doing."

Young said she has been fortunate to have time available to do volunteer work. "My husband has always supported me in whatever I wanted to do."

In fact, Young has recruited her husband, Lloyd, to join some of her volunteer efforts. "I just enjoy being involved," Young said.

Moyers said: "All of a sudden you will get a card in the mail: Just thinking of you."

Young sends at least 200 cards a year. "It's such a simple little act to let someone know you're thinking about them," she said.

Young goes grocery shopping for friends when they can't get out.

"Out of the blue, she will bake cookies and take to police station or to girls in administration or to her neighbors," Moyers said.

This week she made cookies, shaped like musical notes for each member of the church choir. The same day, she made a batch of candy for a friend -- just because.

She visits senior citizens and sometimes invites them to her home for dinner.

Young said she's thinking of cutting back on a few committees. She and her sister would like to write another genealogy book. Several years ago, they wrote a book on Conrad family history.

As a city leader, Young often experienced criticism. "She didn't let that get her down," Moyers said. "She rises above everything for the good of the community."