By Hannah Oswalt
Tawni Vickers, a homegrown girl, and Sapulpa graduate voted “Most School Spirit,” has a love for this town that is evident by her involvement in and all the ways she serves to make this community a wonderful place. Tawni’s official title is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for the City of Sapulpa, however, she does much, much more.
“It’s an honor to get to work for the place that raised you, you know,” she says. “Of course, my family raised me, but Sapulpa is a huge part of who I am. So, to get to work for the city is just a huge honor.”
In addition to her official capacity at City Hall, she also gives of her time to other organizations, such as serving as chairman for the local chapter of the Tulsa Area United Way. Vickers helps raise funds for core non-profit agencies in Sapulpa and explained that giving through United Way raises more money then giving directly. “I could give $5 directly to Youth Services (of Creek County), but if I were to give to the United Way, there’s so much activity happening with that money, that they’re going to combine what I just gave to them with other funds, and then give that back.”
Vickers says her favorite thing about Sapulpa is the way the community comes together, especially during tough times. “You know, we love hard; if there’s a tragedy, if there’s a disaster, if there’s, you know, a football game, anything like that people show up, and they’re there for each other,” she says. “But if there’s a fight on Facebook, we fight hard too. It’s like a family, we love hard, we fight hard. But at the end of the day, we show up for each other.”
For those looking to get involved, Vickers takes the simple approach: “Just get started,” she said. “There is something for everyone with any type of passion. it’s just as simple as walking in and saying, ‘I’m here to help,’ and no one’s going to turn you away.”
Vickers explained how there is a place and a need for anyone wanting to get involved. “No matter what time you have—whether it’s an hour a week or an hour a month—there is a place for everyone in this town.” She even volunteered to help: “If you don’t know where to go, call me,” she said.
Outside of the various committees and boards she serves on, Vickers also has a passion for Sapulpa’s Early Head Start program. “I will talk to anyone that will listen to me about that program because it is so important to me,” she says.
Vickers explained that Sapulpa’s Early Head Start is for poverty-stricken families and low-income families who have children from newborn to three years old. Head Start is a free, federally-funded, family-focused, and community-oriented program meeting the social, emotional, health and nutritional needs of income-eligible children and families. Located north of Sapulpa and just west of Highway 97, the facility is facing dire straits, necessitating even more help from the community.
One of the ways Vickers has made an impact in that area is by partnering with Caring Community Friends to make sure that each family gets a Christmas box dinner. She also helps with presents for the children. “I send a letter to every parent of three wants and three needs for every family,” she says. “And then I get people to adopt those children.” She also mentioned how they help find funds for the teachers to purchase a gift for the students, usually something the teachers know the student needs or wants “but they would probably never ask for,” she said. “That’s been a really big mission of mine to get more and more people involved in that,” she says. “Getting involved” could also be defined as spending an hour of time at the Head Start, by doing so, the program is able to receive funding in exchange for any time donated.
Vickers shared about the selflessness of the people in the community of Sapulpa and how when they hear of a need they fill it. “I have no doubt that when people learn about a problem, or an issue, or a need in this community, they’ll always show up,” she says.
Not every helping hand has to be in the spotlight. “Even if you are like me, you can still make a difference,” she said. “You can still be involved in things. Most everything I do, I try to do it behind the scenes.”
Her heart for Sapulpa shines through in how she cares for the people here. This summer Vickers threw a block party birthday for Emmett, our town’s Goodwill Ambassador. Vickers said, “It’s a full circle for me, when I was a kid I saw him walking around and thought he was famous. Now he’s my best friend.”
