owner of the Blue Dog Barber Shop. She had sent money all the way from Georgia for his fundraiser. Amanda points out Brody has filled out handwritten thank you notes to all of donors who have contributed money toward the project. The cost of buying the monkey bars was $2,200, and to date Brody’s campaign has raised $2,700. Amanda explained that the monkey bars can only be ordered through certain companies that are approved for playground equipment for municipal parks. The monkey bars coming to Brookport will be purchased through a company in Indianapolis, Indiana. The monkey bars will be for 5 to 12-year-olds and will be 16 feet long. The actual cost of the monkey bars is $1,200, but the freight cost alone is $950. Brandon, half-jokingly, says that a road trip might be in order. Amanda says the monkey bars will actually arrive sometime this spring, likely after spring break. But the fundraiser will continue through the first of April. When the monkey bars arrive, it won’t be city employees installing them either. Brody emphatically says it will be him and his dad who will be putting them up with the help of post hole diggers and some cement. “Me and Daddy will do it. One of my friends asked if he could help and I told him he couldn’t do that. I want to do it on my own,” he said. As the fundraising continues until April, Brody says he and his parents will look at using any of the extra collected funds to make additional upgrades at the park. A couple of possibilities would be swing set upgrades, such as new seats and chains. Brody has reached the $2,200 goal and says, “It feels great. I’m proud of it.” He says if any other young people read about his story and want to do something like this, his advice is simple. “I would probably say think about what you want, put the idea into motion, and start raising funds.” There will be a fundraiser on Saturday, March 11, at the Bridge Inn in Brookport. The business will sponsor a pork chop plate dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the proceeds going to Brody’s Monkey Bars. Anyone wishing to donate may mail checks to Brody’s Monkey Bars Project, c/o Brody Powell, 6703 Unionville Rd., Brookport, IL 62910 or anyone with PayPal may donate to the fundraiser by using Amanda’s email address: [email protected]. Tax deductible checks may be sent to the Brookport Betterment Committee, with Brody’s Monkey Bars Project written on the memo line on the check. 48 MARCH 2023 | INTHEVUE.COM
