Community involvement

An effort to help make Cape Girardeau a healthier community is also giving participants an opportunity to do something good for others in the process.

Shape Up Cape, a community fitness program sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, is asking participants to volunteer at community agencies during the last week of the contest.

And after a three-month emphasis on fitness, some Shape Up Cape participants are ready to try something new. Besides, there's a great motivator on the line: extra points.

Shape Up Cape participants earn up to 15 points for their daily exercises. Now the teams can earn 25 extra points a day for volunteering during Days of Caring, a program that encourages business people to volunteer in the community.

Because the programs overlapped, the chamber agreed to integrate them. Days of Caring begins Monday and ends Sept. 25. Shape Up Cape also ends Sept. 25.

Not only will the combination of programs help the people who participate by giving them a chance to see another aspect of their community, but it also will help the United Way because it encourages businesses to give their employees time to volunteer.

And many Shape Up Cape teams are choosing to volunteer this year that haven't been involved in Days of Caring in years past. The United Way of Southeast Missouri thinks joining the two programs has helped bring about a greater awareness of community needs and volunteer opportunities.

Any team, team member or business interested in signing up can call either the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce at 335-3312 or Marla Mills at the United Way of Southeast Missouri at 334-9634.

Here's a great opportunity to get involved in the community.