That's when several members of South Cottonwood 4-H Club help at the Hillsboro's recycling site as part of the club's community service project.
"I help coordinate (the service project) for 4-H," said Bruce Heyen, associate professor of chemistry at Tabor College.
As community service coordinator, Heyen makes sure a South Cottonwood 4-H family will be ready and waiting when Paul Jantzen, the site's volunteer coordinator, shows up to unlock the gate at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.
The Heyen family-Bruce and Janell, and their children, Benjamin, 13, twins Emma and Elise, 10, and Claire, 5-and about 14 other families associated with the club, alternate the responsibility of assisting at the site for three hours of their assigned Saturday, he said.
Most patrons who come to the site know what they're doing, but a few people are a little confused about the bin in which to toss their recyclables, Bruce Heyen said.
"Every time somebody comes in I ask if I can help them," he said. "Once in a while (I have to help them) figure out where something goes."
South Cottonwood 4-H is one of several volunteer groups that show up on a Saturday-rain or shine-throughout the year.
When working outside, the weather conditions can vary.
"When I have to work (sometimes) it's cold," said Benjamin Heyen. "And last time it was hot."
Jantzen said he relies on South Cottonwood members and others who volunteer at the recycling site on a regular basis.
"Their job is to help people with their materials that they bring, especially to help them know where to put them," Jantzen said.
The recycling center collects a variety of recyclable items-such as aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastic, newspaper and tin cans-and all must be sorted by kind and placed in the appropriate bin or Dumpster.
"Some people-if they haven't been there very often or haven't been there before-are overwhelmed with all the places where different things go," he said.
Another 4-H family, Sharon Prieb and children Cheryl and Mark, put in volunteer hours earlier this summer.
"Sometimes we have to wash out jars, cans or milk jugs," Cheryl said about the chores she has done at the center.
When someone throws dirty items in a bin or leaves jars or papers in the wrong receptacle, the volunteers have to clean or sort them out because items must be cleaned and rinsed off.
Eighteen-year-old Cheryl, a veteran 4-Her, said each year the club votes on a service project and a committee organizes a schedule. For the past several years, the club has chosen the recycling center as its project.
Like South Cottonwood, otherlocal groups have annually made recycling their service project.
Along with South Cottonwood, the following groups provide regular volunteers at the recycling center: Noon Lions Club, Evening Lions Club, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Son of America Legion, Marion County Home Schools and Leos, a high school group associated with the Lions.
Jantzen said he also relies on another regular volunteer-Sherry Fields, who teaches fifth grade at Hillsboro Elementary School.
The city has an agreement with the McPherson Solid Waste Utility to dispose of certain items, he said.
If various items aren't accepted at McPherson, Fields transports them to other recycling centers, Jantzen said.
Even though schedules change during the summer months, Jantzen has found the groups to be dependable.
"They've been pretty well sticking with it," said Jantzen, who has found that most groups keep their commitment long-term-"until they tell me otherwise."
Having adults participate with the children who volunteer can make the time run more smoothly, Jantzen said.
"I always feel a little better if we have adults there," he added.
Adults can help the children, but they also make sure the patrons receive the assistance they need, Jantzen said.
Once a group of fifth-graders arrived without any adults, Jantzen said.
"In that case, I probably had to stay there a little longer (than usual)," he said. "However, the kids in charge at that time had, for the most part, worked there before."
Jantzen orients volunteers, updating them with the information as needed, "depending on what's there and how much experience they've had," he said.
Members of the Prieb family were quick to note several benefits about requiring a community service project for their 4-H club.
"Volunteering helps our club get involved with the town, and it gets younger members involved," Cheryl said. "We get to work as a family and learn responsibility."
Unloading recyclables or pointing patrons to the right bin can be rewarding for some volunteers.
"I like the satisfaction of helping older people," said Mark Prieb, 13.
Working at the recycling site can be educational, too.
"We've learned a lot about recycling," Sharon Prieb said.
Jantzen has to find volunteers to oversee the center Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Even with the faithful work of South Cottonwood 4-H Club and others, Jantzen said he still has some openings in the schedule for volunteers.
He listed the following open slots: second Thursdays of odd-numbered months, fifth Thursdays of a month, and fifth Saturdays of the month.
"I always have to find somebody to fill those spots," he said.
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