Thousands of tires collected during North Salina Community Development event

<b>A huge mound of tires was collected Saturday. </b>Photo courtesy North Salina Community Development — **A huge mound of tires was collected Saturday.** Photo courtesy North Salina Community Development

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post

Nearly 4,000 tires were collected during a North Salina Community Development (NSCD) event Saturday.

NSCD's Barb Young told Salina Post Sunday that a tally of all the sign-in sheets shows that 3,973 tires were collected. That total was more than four times the number collected in 2019, she noted.

"Despite the fact there were many events happening Saturday, we had a steady stream of trucks, trailers and cars bringing tires, helping North Salina Community Development's goal of sprucing up Saline County," Young said.

Twenty-six student volunteers and coaches from Kansas Wesleyan University helped with sign-in, unloading and stacking the tires. Additionally, some of those volunteers also filled 11 Little Libraries around town with books, Young said.

<b>KWU volunteers helped unload and stack the tires.</b> Photo courtesy Michelle Case — **KWU volunteers helped unload and stack the tires.** Photo courtesy Michelle Case

"The attitudes and the work ethics of our students never cease to amaze me. They showed up, worked hard and made a huge impact in the Salina community," said Michelle Case, chair of the Department of Business and Accounting at Kansas Wesleyan, who recruited the student volunteers.

<b>This bench at the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank community garden was made from recycled tires. It was purchased from Champlin Tire Recycling, Inc. </b>Photo courtesy North Salina Community Development — **This bench at the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank community garden was made from recycled tires. It was purchased from Champlin Tire Recycling, Inc.** Photo courtesy North Salina Community Development

The mound of tires will be picked up and recycled by Champlin Tire Recycling, Inc., of Concordia. The recycled tires are used to produce such items as picnic tables and benches.

Young said the Dry Creek cleanup that was scheduled in conjunction with the tire collection had to be postponed to next spring due to wet conditions from recent rains.