Mars Petcare makes pet food for brand names and places like Wal-Mart, but this week employees are getting out of their Joplin plant to volunteer in the community. The Children's Center in Joplin provides services to victims of child abuse and their families, and its facility is in the need of a little updating. Children's Center Assistant Director Kathy Olson says, "We have served over 6,000 children and we haven't had any updating for about 10 years so it was just time." Employees of the Mars Petcare US Plant at 20th and Stateline in Joplin decided to help redecorate the center's family room. Mars Petcare US Plan Manager Gregg Albus says, "We thought this is something else we could go out of the plant and show how much we care about the community and how much we can help out with the community." "It's our community and their support that really helps us keep our doors open and so we truly appreciate it," says Olson. This is the second year Joplin Mars employees have participated in the "Mars Volunteer Program" Week, or MVP Week. Last year they volunteered at the Humane Society, which they'll return to again this year. "We've remodeled the inside to make it more user friendly for the people coming to adopt dogs and also for the people who work there," says Albus. Along with re-doing the family room at the Children's Center, volunteers also cleaned up the landscaping. Children's Center workers say no matter what, a decorating update is needed. "You know, to tell you the truth, I don't really know their plans so it's going to be a surprise, we're all excited," says Olson. Mars employees say they volunteer to thank and contribute to loyal communities.
