Helping Hands, Stronger Neighborhoods: City of Sedalia Approves Support for Volunteer Home Repair Efforts

In neighborhoods across Sedalia, you might catch a quiet moment of transformation; volunteers repairing a front porch, building a wheelchair ramp, or clearing out years of debris for someone who can no longer do it themselves. This is the work of Helping Hands–a volunteer-led nonprofit making a visible difference in the lives of Sedalia’s most vulnerable residents.

Helping Hands focuses on providing essential home repairs and cleanup assistance for low-income, elderly and disabled individuals, ensuring they can remain safely in their homes. From small fixes to major repairs, their work restores dignity and prevents displacement, while also directly supporting public health and neighborhood revitalization.

What makes their impact even more impressive is that it’s entirely volunteer-driven. Yet the organization still absorbs out-of-pocket costs to complete these repairs, including nearly $400 last year alone in City-imposed container rental and landfill tipping fees for cleanup efforts.

Recognizing the importance of this mission, the Sedalia City Council has unanimously approved two resolutions to support Helping Hands’ ongoing efforts, beginning within the 353 Redevelopment Area.

Why start there? The 353 Redevelopment Area includes neighborhoods identified as having high potential for revitalization through targeted reinvestment and support. It’s where aging infrastructure, housing challenges, and economic hardship often converge–and where the impact of repair and cleanup efforts can be felt most immediately. Focusing initial support here allows both Helping Hands and the City to address visible needs, stabilize housing conditions, and build momentum for neighborhood renewal.

The first resolution waives up to $600 in container rental and landfill tipping fees during Fiscal Year 2025-2026. This relief supports cleanup and property maintenance efforts that help residents meet health and safety standards. Projects must take place within the redevelopment area, with container requests submitted at least one week in advance.

The second resolution waives up to $4,000 in building permit fees during the 2025 and 2026 calendar years for eligible Helping Hands projects–reducing financial barriers for much-needed home improvements. The resolution takes effect immediately and remains valid through April 6, 2026.

“These aren’t just financial waivers–they’re investments in people,” said Mayor Andrew Dawson. “Helping Hands is doing the kind of hands-on, compassionate work that uplifts entire neighborhoods. We want to make sure city policy supports that work, not stands in its way.”

City departments will coordinate directly with Helping Hands to implement the waivers, ensuring all projects meet building standards and are properly documented.

Helping Hands recently celebrated the completion of its 50th home repair–a major milestone in its growing legacy of service. With continued community support and the City’s partnership, many more homes–and lives–can be restored in the years to come.

And these resolutions are just the beginning. As Sedalia continues to invest in stronger, more resilient neighborhoods, the City looks forward to building an even deeper partnership with Helping Hands–amplifying their impact and bringing lasting change to the families and communities that need it most.

To volunteer, donate, or learn more about Helping Hands, please contact: sedaliacommunityhelpinghands@gmail.com, Facebook–Sedalia Community Helping Hands, or via phone at 660-553-1871