В Джопли создан клуб «Социальная мышь», объединяющий бегунов и любителей прогулок для укрепления сообщества

- Nick and Sarah Vaca created the Social Mouse Club in early 2024 after receiving devastating personal news, turning their challenge into a community-building initiative. - What started as an invitation to close friends has grown into a thriving group that welcomes runners, walkers and people seeking connection and belonging in the Joplin area. - The club provides members with physical activity, social engagement and mental health benefits, helping participants like National Guard soldier Daniel Wyatt overcome social anxiety and build meaningful friendships. Webb City, Missouri — When Nick and Sarah Vaca faced heartbreaking news in early 2024, they chose to channel their emotions into action. Rather than suffer in silence, they decided to prepare for a race and invited friends to join them. What began as a small gathering of supportive companions has evolved into the Social Mouse Club, a community movement that now brings together dozens of people across Joplin who share a common goal: connection. "We thought this would be a heck of a lot more fun if we had other people out here doing it with us," Nick Vaca said. "So we just started inviting our friends to join us. And over time, people just started showing up and they kept showing up." The growth was organic and unexpected. Initially, attendees were friends offering support to the Vacas during their personal struggle. But as word spread, strangers began appearing at the group's gatherings. "At first it was our friends trying to support us, trying to be nice, and then every now and again, someone would show up who we didn't know," Vaca explained. Friends invited more friends, and the Social Mouse Club expanded beyond the Vacas' original circle. Today, the group has become a fixture in the Joplin community, attracting people from all walks of life and fitness levels. Not everyone who participates is focused on running. Many members, like Andi Johnson, come primarily for the social aspect and the opportunity to stay active with people they care about. "All my friends come," Johnson said. "So, you know, it's the social part that I really enjoy. Not so much the running, but, you know, we love getting physical activity and spending time with people that I like hanging out with." For some members, the club's impact extends far beyond physical fitness. Daniel Wyatt, a National Guard soldier, credits the Social Mouse Club with helping him overcome personal challenges and build confidence in social situations. Wyatt was initially reluctant to join. A friend named Jose introduced him to the group and encouraged him to attend, but Wyatt was hesitant. "I really didn't want to do it, but he, like, peer pressure me into doing it," Wyatt said. "And now it became a lifestyle." The transformation has been significant. "I used to be an introvert, so like some of this stuff is not the best. But like it helps me become better with socializing with people," Wyatt said. For the Vacas, the club's success reflects their deeper mission: to create a sense of belonging and community investment in Joplin. "Just made some really awesome connections and friendships with people all throughout Joplin," Nick Vaca said. "I love this city and I want to invest in it. And so that's another heart behind why we created this was just to give people something to do and something to belong to." What started as a personal coping mechanism has become a beacon for community members seeking fitness, friendship and purpose. The Social Mouse Club stands as a testament to how individual challenges, when shared and transformed into collective action, can strengthen an entire community. COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.