Cindi Allen’s Ideas for Ogallala

By: Jensen

Cindi Allen had 14 different schools as a kid, and she moved more than 23 times. She never had a set hometown, but that didn’t stop her from being involved in her community. Even as a kid, she could see the needs of her schools. But there weren’t that many opportunities for her to get involved. There were no groups to join but Student Council, and there weren’t sports for girls. So, Cindi would set up groups that centered around the issue and together, they would try to help fix the problem. And when she moved on to another new school, she would bring in fresh ideas that she got from her old schools.

She moved to Ogallala in 1996, and since then, her perception of Ogallala has changed. It feels like her home. Not only has her view has changed; she’s noticed that more people are starting to see that they can participate in ways they didn’t think they could before. “I see a lot of people in Ogallala beginning to step up to the plate and fill the gaps,” Cindi said.

Cindi has some ideas on how to improve the community of Ogallala. She says that prettier entrances and more “green areas” in the downtown area would help improve Ogallala’s look. She feels Ogallala has one shot at someone, whether it’s a person who wants to move to a smaller community or someone interviewing for a job, and Ogallala need a good first impression.  

Cindi has also done her part to help the community. Cindi was on the Agricultural Advisory Committee for Congressman Tom Osborne and Congressman Adrian Smith. Other leadership roles she has taken involve the Nebraska L.E.A.D “Leadership, Education, Agriculture, Development” program and the Nebraska State Chamber Leadership program, Class 1. Locally, she served on the Ogallala School Board and was a candidate for the State Board of Education. Cindi has served as a KCAD Board Member and is currently a member of the Keith County Chamber Advisory Committee. She was proud to be a part of the Anna Batehelcer Excellence in Public Service as well. Even while living in Germany, she organized a bible study for little kids.

Cindi is a past president of Rotary and she helped form the group Interact for Youth, which is a student branch of the Rotary. Through her years as Interact’s sponsor, she has helped the group raise money for many amazing humanitarian projects that have benefited children and youth around the world. Some fundraising projects OHS students have participated in include: the Purple Pinky Project, which raised $485 to purchase 485 polio vaccinations over seas; the 5K Turkey Trot; Cocoa to Go at the Parade of Lights; and Battle of the Bands.

Through Interact fundraising, Cindi was able to take $1000 to a school in Uganda, Africa to help them finish building. Interact also was able to fund three Shelter Boxes for victims of Hurricane Katrina, people in Haiti, as well as Japan. These boxes were $1200 each and supplied a family of ten with a tent, water, and all the supplies they would need to survive on their own. Interact also was able to sponsor education for two children in Kenya for 3-4 years through their fundraising efforts. Interact has also helped supply hospital supplies to Romania and one Filipino child’s surgery to correct a cleft palette through Alliance for Smiles. Locally, Interact has sponsored a school supply drive for several years and made donations to the Women’s Resource Center.