Submitted photo Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco signed a proclamation for Extra Mile Day this week and honored the 2022 Extra Mile Hero Award winners. Missy McCollam from the Old Brick Playhouse was selected as one of the winners, along with the Citizens Promoting Community organization. Pictured above with Mayor Marco are, from left, Citizens Promoting Community volunteers Clark Martin, Alan Huffman, Paula Marco, Phillips Kolsun and Burley Woods. McCollam was unable to attend the signing event.

ELKINS — Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco signed a proclamation at City Hall this week honoring this year’s recipients of the Extra Mile Heroes service to the community award.

The mayor proclaimed Nov. 1 to be Extra Mile day in Elkins, as it was in 507 other communities across the U.S.. In the proclamation, Marco urged each individual in the community to take time to not only go the extra mile in his or her own life, but to also acknowledge all those who are inspirational in their efforts and commitment to make their organizations, families, community, country and world a better place.

Each year mayors from across the country select between 1 and 3 individuals or organizations from their hometown for the Extra Mile Award. The nominees are those who make significant contributions to make the city better.

Marco chose two individuals and one organization from a long list of nominees who were selected in 2022. One of the individuals he selected asked to remain anonymous and the mayor granted that wish.

The other individual selected was Old Brick Playhouse director Missy McCollam, who over the years has helped more than 2,500 students express their love for the arts.

“Missy cares deeply for the community in which she lives,” Marco said. “She serves with deep love and compassion for people of all ages from 5 to 100 years old, making sure that they know that ‘everyone is different, and everyone is important.'”

McCollam established the Old Brick Playhouse in 1991-1992 and, for the past 25 years, has offered Educational Arts programming locally, throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and overseas. The Old Brick Playhouse offers regular afterschool programs that provide a safe and positive environment for elementary and secondary school students to explore the arts.

The organization Marco selected for this year’s Extra Mile Award was Citizens Promoting Community. The group consists of like-minded citizens whose goal is to create a better community.

This past summer, the organization held numerous events and raised close to $3,000 for local non-profits. The group has raised more than $6,500 in just one year of existence.

“Over the last year, Citizens Promoting Community has shown what can happen when you get a group together and they work as a team,” Marco said. “The cakewalks they had during the summer went really well and the community responded by attending and taking part. They also hosted some other events like a cornhole tournament that drew a lot of people out as well. They have really stepped up for the community in just a short time.”

Extra Mile America, the organization coordinating this program, said the purpose of Extra Mile Day is to celebrate the capacity everyone has to create positive change in their families, organizations and communities by “going the extra mile.”

Extra Mile America coordinates and promotes Extra Mile Day and the Extra Mile Hero Awards. The organization challenges people and organizations to do more than just wish for change, it encourages everyone to go the extra mile in heart, mind and action.