life
TOGETHER!
Summer 2012
council of churches of the ozarks
Overcoming Poverty In the Ozarks Renewing Hope for Children Importance of Water Running a Shelter Stretch Your Food Dollars
From the Executive Director Mission Statement To improve the quality of life in our region through collaborative outreach in the name of Jesus Christ, by doing together what can best be done together.
Council of Churches of the Ozarks Board of Directors Ken McClure, Chair Kevin Ausburn
Poverty on the Rise The growth of working families living at or below the poverty line in the Ozarks is troubling. According to the American Community Survey of the U.S. Census, the number of families in Springfield living at or below poverty level has more than doubled (a percentage increase of more than 130%) from 2006 to 2010. In real dollars, poverty level means a family of four (two adults with two children) has income of $23,050 or less annually. The number of families in the state of Missouri living at or below poverty level grew by 6% in the same period; the number of families in the U.S. in this same category grew by 15% for this same period.
Kenneth Chumbley
Whenever I talk with others about the growing poverty levels in Springfield compared to Missouri and the U.S., most of the time good people respond by asking, “Why is this happening in Springfield?” It is a good question. I’ve discovered that whenever I’m working on trying to figure out the answer to this question, the number of people cueing up for assistance only grows greater.
Kim Erdel
A New City
Jan Baumgartner Kerry Bodenhausen
Dan Friberg Neil Guion Gordon Kinne David Peck Francine Pratt Tom Reidy Tim Rosenbury Juleen Turnage Cindy Waites, Ex Officio Bill Foster
The CCO Foundation Chair
CCOzarks.org 627 N. Glenstone P.O. Box 3947 Springfield, MO 65808 Office: 417-862-3586 Fax: 417-862-2129
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Dear Compassionate Partners in Faith,
life Together!
St. Basil of Caesarea, a 4th Century Christian leader, understood something about what Springfield and the Ozarks is going through right now. Instead of a Great Recession, his community experienced a severe drought, followed by a famine. People suffered greatly from hunger, homelessness and health problems. Personally, St. Basil was from a wealthy family that had resources to rise above the tide of poverty, yet his faith in God moved him to lead his community into a new understanding of what it means to share life together. The thrust of Basil’s message was this: simplify your life, so you have something to share with others. He became a vocal advocate for the creation of a new kind of community, one based on simplicity and sharing. Basil founded a philanthropic center where people could go to receive food, clothing, shelter and medical care free of charge. After Basil’s death, his friend Gregory of Nazianzus renamed the center the “New City.” I admire St. Basil for his vision, his action, and his counsel to others about how best to respond to their neighbors in need. Another wise counselor once said, “If you have the ability to respond, maybe that means you have a responsibility.” In this issue of Life Together! you will find examples of the ways we are responding to the growing poverty levels in our community. As you respond, I want to lift up our annual Power of Together Challenge, funded by a small group of board members and business partners who pool their funds to create a dollar-for-dollar match to encourage generosity. Thank you for your partnership with the Council of Churches as we envision and work toward a “New City” right here in the Ozarks.
Mark Struckhoff Executive Director
Thank you for your 2011 Power of Together Sponsorship! Presenting Sponsor - $5,000 +
Service Agencies Ambassadors For Children
Sondra Uzzell, msw, lcsw, Director 500 W. Battlefield Springfield, MO 65807 417-708-0565
Child Care Food Program
Gold Sponsors - $2,500 +
Vicki McMillen, Director 1531 E. Sunshine E-1 Springfield, MO 65804 1-800-818-6812
Child Care Aware® of Southern Missouri
Silver Sponsor - $1,000 +
Larry Freund, Inc., Peck’s Insurance & Financial Services, Southern Missouri Containers, Hlavacek, Morris, McIntrye, Yates & Danielson
Challenge Partner - $250 +
Nicole Piper, Director 1910 E. Meadowmere Springfield, MO 65804 417-887-3545
Connections Handyman Service Richard Virnig, Director 627 N. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65802 417-862-3586
Ollis & Company
Together We Raised $105,215 In This Issue
Crosslines
Tom Faulkner, Director 1710 E. Chestnut Expressway Springfield, MO 65802 417-869-0563
Daybreak Adult Day Care
Cover Story – Poverty in the Ozarks – Page 4 A look at the 2010 Census and how poverty effects our community.
Renewing Hope for Children – Page 6 Tackling the abuse and neglect in the Ozarks head-on with a new location for AFC.
Importance of Water – Page 14 Summer is great to play in the water. We’ll give you tips for getting kids to drink more water.
New Program to Stretch the Food Budget – Page 8 Running A Shelter – Page 9
Volunteers, donations and an open heart to run Safe to Sleep Women’s Shelter.
Rick Stephenson, Director 1461 E. Seminole Springfield, MO 65804 417-881-0133 / 417-882-4243
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Connie Payne, Director 627 N. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65802 417-862-3598
RSVP
Dee Maples, Director 627 N. Glenstone Springfield, MO 65802 417-862-3595
CCOzarks.org
Uniting Faith. Serving with Compassion. life Together! 3
Overcoming Poverty by Christine Moses and Lesa Nelson
The statistics are staggering when you look at poverty in the Ozarks. When we see the commercials and pictures with wide eyed destitute children who are in dire need of food and clothing we expect that they are the children from third world countries. Poverty, hunger and abuse are happening right here and the statistics are alarming. (The 2010 U.S. Census found that 49.1% of Springfield families with children under the age of five are living below the poverty level.) Poverty is defined in the dictionary as “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor.” And, the government defines it as income of $23,050 or less for a family of four. We define it as a family that has just lost their job, the elderly couple living on a fixed income, the scared child that is placed into foster care. Part of poverty is not knowing who or where to turn when crisis strikes. Most families are on a fragile balance that one crisis – a car breaks down, an unexpected home repair, an illness – turns their lives on end. The 2011 Community Focus Report found that poverty played an integral role in all aspects of early childhood development and negatively impacts the more obvious areas like housing and nutrition, but poverty is also a contributing factor in the abuse and neglect of these children. The result is that Greene County is ranked third in the state for
child abuse and neglect and the number of children in the Greene County foster system has increased to approximately one thousand. Missouri’s foster families often struggle with expenses; Missouri is ranked 47th in the nation for the states assistance in caring for these children. Missouri allows between $250.00- $480.00 a year for clothing (depending on the child’s age). Statistics show that the average length of time these children remain in foster care is two and half years, they will move three times, and are at higher risk to quit school before graduating. The children of poverty are truly a sector of our population who have no voice.
Missouri is ranked 47th for assisting foster families with expenses.
Breaking the cycle of poverty is difficult. The agency programs through the Council of Churches of the Ozarks are designed to be a “safety net” for our community - food, shelter, clothing and education. After the basics are met, education is the part that can begin to shift the generational cycles. Imagine, not knowing when your child’s next meal will be or how you will get it. Crosslines continues to create ways to help families in need. Last year, the shift to the Client Choice distribution model made the pantry more efficient and gave a sense of confidence and dignity to clients. A new 4
life Together!
program to help families has just launched – the Family Food Box. This program provides one week of meals for a family of four for $35. The average grocery store cost of this food is $75. This program will help stretch the food budget of families and is completely unrestricted – meaning anyone can utilize the program. The goal is to help families b efore t h e y reach a cr isis status and need food assistance through the pantry.
Family Food Box Program – new to Crosslines to help any family!
Childcare Aware prov ides tr aining programs for families. Additionally, they provide training for child care providers with a focus on child abuse, neglect, addressing stress and trauma, and child safety. The recent cuts in the State budget have affected the accreditation program in the State and locally. The accreditation program helps daycare centers re ce ive p ro f e s s i o n a l training so that they can better accommodate the needs of children. This includes social-emotional
49.1% of Springfield Families with Children Under 5 living in Poverty.
growth, safety standards, nutritious and healthy eating and managing disasters (like a tornado). With this funding being cut, we are facing new challenges to meet the needs of young children in daycare. The Ambassadors for Children program supplies resources for foster children in the Greene County jurisdiction through several programs and has recently
expanded to double the size of The Kid’s Clothes Closet and create a one-stop resource center for foster children, foster families and at-risk children. Last year there was a record number of children in the foster care system from Greene County. This increased number is in direct correlation with the poverty statistics. The higher the poverty level in a community, the higher the percentage of child abuse. It is our responsibilit y as a community to help each other. We will continue to strive to better serve and create programs to improve the life of the vulnerable and improve our community. To get involved, volunteer, donate or offer sug gest i on s p l e a s e contact us. We are here to serve and listen.
Poverty is defined as $23,050 in income for a family of four.
References: Community Focus 2011 life Together! 5
Serving Abused & Neglected Children From The Ozarks
Renewing Hope for Foster Children Ambassadors for Children is now located in a new 4,000
square foot office and facility to enhance programs for local abused and neglected children. The Kid’s Clothes Closet, Adopt-A-Caseworker, Tutoring, Project Self- Esteem and Pack-A-Bag programs are now located in one central location at 500 West Battlefield Road.
The programs offered by Ambassadors for Children are unique to our community with some being unique to the state. To financially support this effort, The Foundation, Council of Churches of the Ozarks has pledged a $150,000 challenge over the next three years ($50,000 per year), which launches the “Renewing Hope” Campaign. The challenge will match dollar-for-dollar donations that are received for Ambassadors for Children.
The expansion will allow for increased services for foster children, children at risk of entering foster care and both the biological and foster families. These will include education services, tutoring and a resource library to assist families. “We want to break the generational cycle of abuse,” stated Sondra Uzzell, There are volunteer Director of Ambassadors opportunities including for Children. “By providing tutoring foster children, helping opportunities for maltreated children to realize their to provide in-kind donations worth and potential, our to support case workers and programs empower children volunteers to help assist with to overcome a family cycle of the new Kid’s Clothes Closet. abuse and neglect.”
To donate, call 417-862-3586 extension 238, online at CCOzarks.org or via the mail to PO Box 3947, Springfield, MO 65808 – please mark “Renewing Hope” on donation.
AFC Recognizes Shirley Scott as the 2011 Volunteer of the Year A
mbassadors for Children announced Shirley Scott as the 2011 Volunteer of the Year. She’s been volunteering for AFC for almost 3 years and has done many different things. She led her church as they “adopted” a local foster care Caseworker & helped fulfill unmet needs for the children/families on the worker’s caseload. When her church was no longer able to participate in that program, she became the chairperson for the local Missouri Compassion chapter (faith based group working with children’s services)—a volunteer position she accepted without hesitation. Shirley has also been an active volunteer the past 2 years at the AFC Christmas gift wrapping party, helping to wrap thousands of new Christmas gifts for local foster kids. She served as volunteer coordinator for the support campaign “Comfort for Kids”, in which over 10,000 comfort kits were distributed to children in the Joplin area after the tornado. Currently, Shirley is an active member of the AFC Fundraising Team, helping to plan development campaigns and special events. Shirley is a blessing to AFC and to the Council of Churches of the Ozarks.
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life Together!
Parenting Children Is A Gift A Conversation with Karen Lehman About Being a Foster Parent
Special Thanks to all that contributed to the campaign and to the businesses that helped us build awareness for foster children in the Ozarks. This new annual campaign is centered around May being Foster Care Awareness month. Each cutout for $1 supports Ambassadors for Children and the programs to support local foster children.
What motivated you to become a foster parent?
T
he desire to have a family that included children and the desire to show God’s love to children who needed a family. Why did you decide to adopt from foster care?
I
t was God’s call for our lives. We had information about: the need for children in care, the expense of private adoption, and the many benefits available, even after adoption, to parents who adopted from foster care. Those benefits include a monthly maintenance check, health insurance, and daycare services.
Cut Out Child Abuse
The Lehman Family
Did you utilize any of Ambassadors for Children services for your children? If so, which ones and what are your thoughts about them?
Y
es we did! Our oldest son, while still in care, was funded to attend martial arts classes. This helped increase his self esteem and provided him an opportunity to be in a positive and active learning environment. Additionally, we visited the Kid’s Closet for both of our children. It was such a blessing! Both boys had fun picking out clothing items and a stuffed animal. What role do you think Ambassadors for Children plays in the lives of foster parents, foster children, and Caseworkers?
T
he role of the agency is to meet needs and provide resources. Ambassadors for Children provides support and assistance on multiple levels for Children’s Division Workers, Foster/Adoptive parents, and most importantly children in care. Free clothing, funding for activities for the children, matching donors with Children’s Division workers for resources needed, the list goes on and on! What was the biggest surprise to you as a foster parent during the foster/adoptive process?
T
he emotional roller coaster of the process was the biggest surprise to both myself and my husband Michael. We prayed constantly for the best welfare for the children. Another pleasant surprise was the support and assistance offered during and after the process. Including subsidy benefits and agencies such as Ambassadors for Children. Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your experience?
A
s a foster/adoptive parent, you receive tremendous blessings from many angles. The gift of parenting children is a gift that can’t be described! life Together! 7
Crosslines Mission Statement:
‘Serving God’s People In Need” Family Food Box – Stretching Your Food Budget L
ast year through help from our generous donors we witnessed our volunteers meet an unprecedented need, distributing food baskets to feed 31,100 (39,600 including holiday food distribution) people right here in Greene County. Already for first three months of this year, we have watched as the need has continued to grow. The economy remains a challenge for many families. The cost of food and fuel continue to rise while many of these families find themselves living from pay Family Meal Box Check Out the Monthly Menus check to pay check. If the and Purchase Today Online at: car breaks down or they www.smartchoicefood.com or have an unforeseen medical issue arise, many find themselves struggling to pay www.midamericafoods.com their rent or mortgage and to feed their families. At Crosslines we are continually seeking pro-active ways to meet the needs of food insecure families in our community. One of our goals is to help families meet that need before they get to a point where they have to visit a food pantry. One such program we are considering and will be testing in the next couple of months is a food box program. The program is designed to help families across the board. It does not just target low income families, but is meant to help any family wanting to stretch their monthly food dollar. We are currently working out the details, but these boxes will include quality, nutritional, good tasting, restaurant quality food at a deep discount. The boxes include approximately a week’s worth of food for a family of four. There is a variety of foods from a variety of frozen meats and vegetables to cereals and pastas. We are looking at price points from $17-$39. The primary box is about $35. There is also a lower priced box for seniors specifically designed for with dietary needs in mind. Email us for more information at FoodBox@CCOzarks.org
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life Together!
Stretching Donation Dollars: You Can Help! W
e desperately need your help to fill the hole where the new Crosslines cooler needs to go. Over the last few months Crosslines added an extension on to the south side of the existing facility to house a much needed walk-in freezer and a walk-in cooler. The freezer was installed in January of this year allowing Crosslines to receive and store hundreds of pounds of additional frozen food. However, the space for the cooler is still an empty hole in the wall. Crosslines received a donated convenience store cooler. The plan is to convert the wall panels into an 8x16 refrigerated unit. The life group from Wesley United Methodist have put the cooler walls together, but we still need a compressor, electrical and coolant plumbing with an estimated cost of $7,000. Crosslines purchases items such as milk and eggs at an increased cost multiple times a week simply because we do not have adequate refrigerated storage space. With the addition of a cooler Crosslines would be able to receive more donated and purchased bulk product stretching financial donations further. One of 4 upright coolers at Crosslines
HOMELESS CONNECTION I
magine you have been let out of a car at Park Central in the evening without your cell phone, your wallet, identification, and credit cards. Everything is closed and dark is gathering. Women you can imagine the fear growing as you consider the danger. Men consider instead that you have dropped your wife or daughter in such as situation. We know that one telephone call to a friend would solve your problem, but every night there are women who are “dropped off ” at a filling station, who escape from domestic abuse, released from the hospital, teenagers who finally have the courage to escape sexual abuse at home – women who have no money and no place to get inside. Two nights ago a pastor found a young woman wandering in his church. She had no money, no food, was not on drugs or drinking. She was just looking for a place to hide, to stay inside overnight. He discovered the services of Safe to Sleep, who keep the women safe, as they are provided a cot for the night, 8 pm to 8 am. Safe to Sleep typically serves between 12 and 20 What It Takes to Run the Safe to women each night who have no other Sleep Program place to stay safe dur• Volunteer to check in women at Cook’s Kettle ing the night. after supper • Volunteer van driver for transport to and from The Council of pickup/dropoff points (one, sometimes two Churches helps to trips) meet the needs of • Donations to support gasoline costs of over those who are at risk $500 per month of becoming homeless • Use of a van or are literally “on the • Two volunteers to set up for guests and stay street.” Churches fulovernight fill the Mission of the • Supply of snacks for evening and continental Council of Churches breakfast “…by doing together • Morning van driver (one or two trips) what can best be done • Supply of underwear, hygiene products, cleaning together.” supplies, paper products and socks. • Volunteer to transport blankets to cleaners for Contact Romona washing Baker to discover how • Scheduling of 40+ volunteers who help you can help. • Contact person to search for next location for rbaker@ccozarks.org Safe to Sleep • Accounting for donations (only private donations are currently funding the program)
Julie Taylor, right, is a faith community nurse or parish nurse at Pathways United Methodist Church. Mercy recently recognized Julie’s efforts and leadership with the Safe to Sleep program that was housed at Pathways UMC from September through March. Special thanks to Julie for her dedication to the program!
Special Thanks to Lloyd’s Cleaners
From Left to Right Todd Edwards, Owner of Lloyd’s Cleaners; Julie Taylor, Coordinator of Safe to Sleep at Pathways UMC; Caleb Mallock, Manager of Lloyd’s Cleaners
life Together! 9
Quality Training for Early Childhood Professionals Child Care Provider Comfort Kits for Kids Same Agency – New Name! Feedback Appreciation Day—May CCRR has a new name – Child Care Aware of Southern As most of you know, the Comfort Kits for Kids project in Joplin Missouri! This name change is a direct result to further 11, 2012 was a huge success. In June and September 2011, over 10,000 align them with their National and Missouri organization. In Comfort Kits were delivered to child care programs, elementary addition, with thehas new name, Child Care The second Sunday in May long been recognized as Aware the day of Southern schools and child serving organizations. Each kit contained Missouri to to 10children. more counties to honor mothers andhas theirexpanded commitment The Fridayin Southern items that were specifically chosen to help children with any Missouri. Get before Mother’s Day, May 11,additional 2012, is Pro-details at www.ccozarks.org! stress and anxiety after the May Joplin tornado—bubbles, vider Appreciation Day, a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers, school-age program staff, child care center directors and staff, and all those who work with children and are responsible for their education and care. “Every week, more than 280,000 children under the age of 5 in Missouri are in the care of someone other than their parents,” says Nicole Piper, Director. “The children and families of Missouri depend on our child care providers. May 11 is the day to recognize the hard work and dedication of these providers and to acknowledge their contributions to quality care.” Provider Appreciation Day was started in 1996 by a group of volunteers in New Jersey who saw the need to recognize the tireless efforts of providers who care for children of working parents. Momentum and support for this event has grown each year, and recognition presently includes individuals and Every week, more government organizations throughout North than 280,000 children America, Europe, and under the age of 5 in Asia.
“
Missouri are in the care of someone other than their parents
In the Springfield metro area Child Care Aware® of Southern Missouri partners with Community Partnership of the Ozarks and the Missouri State University MPP program every year to host a special event for area child care providers. This year’s event will feature the national composer, musician and teacher David Kisor from Growing Sounds™. He will be presenting “Songs of Resilience: The Power of Music To Build Social and Emotional Development”. Providers are going to be appreciated with a fun training, dessert bar and lots of giveaways!
”
Please take the opportunity to thank any child care providers in your life! The work they do is valuable and so crucial to our community!
10 life Together!
Play-doh, etc. The kits also contained information for adults on how to help the children in their lives with the aftermath. During recent work, staff contacted many of the organizations that received Comfort Kits to get feedback and suggestions for feedback. The positive feedback was incredible and we wanted to share some of the stories and kinds words we heard.
Stories Shared with Staff: • Recently two children found the school counselor in the hallway after the storms on March 1, 2012 and told her that they were scared the night before so they used their bubbles from the kit to calm down and it helped them. • Two boys (brothers) in an afterschool program just recently moved into a new home. Both boys kept the bags all this time and took the bags to their new home. • A child care provider is building a storm shelter to keep the children in her care, her family and herself safe. She plans to equip bags, using the list in the comfort care kits, for each child who may be in the shelter. The list was a great resource to her.
Essential Home Repairs for Low Income Seniors I haven’t had a bathroom for two years! W
ell, actually Hazel hadn’t been able to get her power wheelchair through the doorway to her bathroom for quite sometime so she had to make do with a commode and sink baths. Connections Handyman Service was able to utilize funding from the Greene County Senior Citizen’s Service Fund grant money (about $735) to widen her doorway and put a pocket door in the wall. Now she can get on with the business of living her life – which she has gotten pretty good at in the last 92 years – in her own home – which has suited her just fine for over 25 years. Every year we get to make a difference in the lives of our senior citizens and folks with disabilities that want to continue to live in the safety and security of their own homes. So far this year, we have changed the lives of 60 seniors with $45K to do everything from making minor repairs; fixing leaky faucets, to major repairs; replacing a main water line. But business is booming – literally – the boomers are beginning to retire, hoping to continue living in their own homes as they grow older, but the maintenance costs keep going up faster than the amount of their fixed income. Trying to come up with(and not coming up with) the money to buy a new water heater makes cold water bathing the new order of the day - unless Connections Handyman Service can help. As our population ages and their houses aren’t getting any younger either, the need for “just enough money to get this one thing fixed” will continue to grow. The math is pretty simple. Which is more cost effective? To fix the house with a CHS grant or spend public money, month in and month out, to keep someone in a long term care facility? Join with us in making sure that folks can have a chance to continue to live in their own homes – your welcomed gift can help us do just that. If you want to help or know someone who needs help contact Richard Virnig at 862-3586.
Thank You to our Generous Grant-Making Partners Abilities First
Greene County Senior Citizens Service Fund
Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation (OHAF)
The Jeanette Musgrave Foundation
Ronald McDonald House
City of Springfield - Community Development Block Grant
Junior League of Springfield
Wal-Mart Foundation
Darr Family Foundation
Missouri Foundation for Health
Includes Grants from January 2012 to May 2012
Christine & Katharina Pauly Trust
life Together! 11
Why We Love Daybreak W
hat does Daybreak mean to you? The following are some of the responses I received. Most clients talk about the friends, and family they have here at Daybreak. The security, safety and love they feel when being here. And the fun outings and activities we have.
What Daybreak means to me… Daybreak is family, friends and care. We take outings to places that I would not otherwise be able to go to. I am able to assist other people and that makes me feel good. We have exercise and bible study. And the food is great. Sharron M.
Daybreak means a lot to me. I have come here for more than 15 years. I think the world of everyone here. They help to provide hot meals that I would not otherwise get. They help to provide transportation to my medical appointments and supervise my medical care. Andy H.
Daybreak is a safe place for me to come spend the day when my sister has to be gone. I don’t have to worry about getting a meal because it is provided for me. We have many types of entertainment such as Bingo and music we also have a weekly church service. The many things we do also provide a diversion from looking at the same 4 walls and being confined to home. Penny B.
Daybreak provides a necessary service to people with disabilities and the elderly. It allows me to be an advocate for them and to be a voice at the state level. What we do in making sure they have the care they need is important to me. Terry Cornio, LPN Vice President, MADSA (Missouri Adult Daycare Services Association)
Daybreak is FUN!! We sometimes go on trips to Branson. We enjoy playing Wii games and musical instruments. My favorite is the keyboard. We have a lot of fun here and everyone is like family. I love it here at Daybreak! Jeremy K.
Daybreak is a community ministry to disabled adults. Jesus said that anything done to the “ least of these” we have done unto him. Each day, I see Jesus in the love to and from each client. It is a blessing to be involved in such a wonderful environment. Ruth K.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program Advocating for the rights of nursing home residents
Exceptional Caregiver Recognition Luncheon To thank and honor the hard work of caregivers in the Ozarks, the Ombudsman Program presents the 6th annual Exceptional Caregiver Luncheon on Friday, July 27th at The Tower Club. The “Exceptional Caregiver Award” exemplifies taking the extra measures to go above and beyond to provide service to nursing home residents. Criteria for the award include respectExceptional Caregiver ing the residents and honoring their rights, positive Recognition Luncheon attitude, satisfactory functional performance and satisfactory attendance record. Sponsorships are still Friday, July 27th available for the event! In addition, we are gladly The Tower Club accepting donations for appreciation gifts. To get Call for Info 417-862-3598 involved contact Connie Payne at 417-862-3598. 12 life Together!
Introducing the New Director D
ee Maples is a 1984 graduate of Missouri State University, where she achieved a double Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and Psychology and a minor in Sociology. Upon graduating, Dee married and had two children, a son Kyle and a daughter Kayla. Dee gained a foundation of experience at United Missouri Bank as a Consumer Loan Officer where she was recognized for her Excellence in Community Service on “Make a Difference Day”. She then took on a challenge with Heim and Young Securities providing professional financial planning and stock trading. With Dee’s passion for social work, she moved from the financial world to the non-profit sector, taking a position at Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) where she successfully wrote grants to assist low-income families with rent and utilities. Several years later, an opportunity presented itself and Dee took a position at Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph writing City, State, and Federal grants for assistance with mortgage payments, rent and utilities. While at Catholic Charities, Dee obtained many Certifications in Housing Counseling, Homebuyer’s Education, and Financial Planning. Please welcome Dee to the Director position for RSVP and to the Council of Churches of the Ozarks Team! Welcome Dee!
Gift of Time Volunteer Recognition & Awards Luncheon
Studies show that Volunteering is often suggested as a useful activity for seniors to be involved in -- an activity that benefits both society and the seniors’ own health. By volunteering, seniors become more engaged in their world and reap health benefits. Until recently, those health benefits have been hard to define or list. Researchers decided to take on the question of what health benefits there were for seniors who volunteered and shared their own knowledge and experience. The study included seniors who were members of Experience Corps, an organization that trains people over 55 to tutor children. Researchers found that active Experience Corps members reported, compared to other people the same age, improvements in mental health and physical functioning. They also seemed to delay the onset of age-related health problems. Importantly, Experience Corp members reported higher self-esteem and more connectivity with other people. Some other findings of the studies included:
Benefits of Volunteering: • • • • • • • •
a lower risk of depression fewer physical limitations less decline in health due to aging increases in physical activity more engagement in the community an increase in their number of friends feeling their life is improving improvements in memory
Honoring this Year’s Nominees & Announcing the Ten Gift of Time Volunteers of the Year
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Special Thanks To: SMAVA, Oasis, 417 Magazine life Together! 13
“It’s All About Water� Drinking water is both rewarding and beneficial for young children and of course adults. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 includes a water provision for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Effective October 1, 2011, the provision requires child care providers to make drinking water available upon request to children. Especially with the warmer weather approaching it is important to keep the children hydrated with more water intake because children will be more physical and active in the summer months.
Water hydrates the body, cushioning muscles and joints and should be consumed on a regular basis. There are several other benefits to drinking water. A few include water being the main solvent for food, minerals and vitamins, assists the kidneys, assists in the normality of body functions and does not add fat or calories to the diet. As children move through the day they lose water through urination, perspiration and even exhaling. Providers are encouraged to increase the availability of water in their facilities. It is now recommended that after a serving of milk at a meal that water be given in place of a second serving of milk. There are several food sources for water which we highly encourage providers to serve some of these foods during their meals and snacks each day. These foods include watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, apples and citrus fruits. Many vegetables are also a good source of water. These include carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and celery.
A few tips for serving and increasing the availability of water:
* * * * * 14 life Together!
Display child size water pitchers with cups for easy access. Hand out straws. Children often have fun using straws. Offer mini slices of lemons, limes or oranges to add flavor to the water. Set an example for children by drinking water when thirsty. Avoid serving too much water before and during mealtimes as it can make a child full and could keep them from consuming their food.
pictures Together!
Crosslines 2012 Lunch
The Foundation, Council of Churches of the Ozarks St. Pat’s Gala life Together! 15
life
Non-Profit Org. US Postage
Council of Churches of the Ozarks PO Box 3947 Springfield, MO 65808-3947
PaId Springfield, MO Permit #772
TOGETHER! Thank You
Corporate Giving Angel THE FOUNDATION
THE RICHARD THE C. DUNN RICHARD C. DUNN Announcing the 2012 MEMORIAL MEMORIAL CHARITY SHOOTOUT CHARITY SHOOTOUT SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THEPower DA TE!Challenge of Together
The Richard C. Dunn The FoundaTion oF The CounCil oF ChurChes Memorial Charity Shootout
Gala - September Gala 16, 2012 •-5:30 September pm 16, 2012 • 5:30 pm Highland Highland Springs Tournament Springs - September 17, 2012 Tournament - September 17, 2012
Plans Plans are already are underwayalready for this year's tournament underway which will be held on for this year's tournament which will be held on September September 17. Lunch begins at 11:00 17. AM and Lunch Tee Off at 12:00begins Noon. As always at 11:00 AM and Tee Off at 12:00 Noon. As always the the banquetbanquet will be held the eveningwill before (September be held 16) with both the a silent evening before (September 16) with both a silent auction auction and live auction. and Last year's live auction featured auction. many golf items Last as well as year's auction featured many golf items as well as collectibles. collectibles. The live auction highlighted The recreation live equipment auction along with statues, highlighted recreation equipment along with statues, Dick spent his lifetime championing cause of underprivileged, at-risk trips, trips, jewelry andjewelry gourmet dinners by and Nakato andgourmet Simply Delicious. The number dinners by Nakato and Simply Delicious. The number he Foundation was organized in 1998the for the purpose children, seniors and those with developmental He was exofof teamsteams is limited - so make is plans limited accordingly. - so make plans accordingly. of allowing individuals to place in trust their assets for disabilities. the THE ecutive director Boys & Girls Town of Missouri (BGTM) for 29 years, opportunity of of enhancing the quality of life for others. Your FOUNDATION and gift also as head of of the ofassure Health and Senior to served THE FOUNDATION thestate's CouncilDepartment of Churches will OFFICERS WINNING TEAMS WINNING FROM THE 2011 TEAMS FROM THE 2011 Services. theones time of his death, heas was of The Arc of that yourAt loved are adequately cared for well aschairman the in our the needy Ozarks Board of Directors in Springfield THE community who are served by the agenciesand of thePresident of2009-2010 RICHARD RICHARD C. DUNN MEMORIAL C.CHARITY DUNN SHOOTOUTMEMORIAL CHARITY SHOOTOUT Council of Churches. FOUNDATION, Council of Churches of the Ozarks. He also served as chair Bill Foster, Board Chairman of the Children's Trust Fund. tireless advocate these organizations, Through presentations by THE A FOUNDATION, we arefor assisting Don Martin, Board Secretary Over 30 teams participated. Over 30 teams participated. Dickindividuals "left his mark" on our region and indeed, and families to gain an understanding of the state and nation. Our 2011 TOURNAMENT WINNERS 2011 TOURNAMENT WINNERS Stanley"A Ball, Treasurer committee is pleased toopportunities honor Dicktoas he exemplifies what knowledge this tournament is all about, enhance personal incomes, of Source of Hope for a lifetime." current tax laws and how to avoid Probate. Seminars are Richard C. Dunn, President presented by experts in financial planning as well as tax The Foundation attorneys. Arrangements may also be made for private and personal consultation without charge to the individual or family. For more information about the service of THE FOUNDATION, please contact Richard Dunn at 839-7450.
4 Person Scramble-3 Flights T
Presenting Sponsor
Wood Team - Men
Knowles Team - Ladies
Wood Team - Men
Proceeds Benefitting:
Knowles Team - Ladies
Sponsors THE FOUNDATION ofyou! Churches We are Gold here toCouncil be of service to ofTHE theFOUNDATION Ozarks September 16, 2012 Gala Some specific ways can help you are:
THANK THANK YOU TO ALLYOU (SPONSORS, TO PLAYERS ALL & VOLUNTEERS) (SPONSORS, FOR MAKING THIS TOURNAMENT PLA A SUCCESS! YERS & VOLUNTEERS) FOR MAKING THIS TOURNAMENT A SUCCES
SAVE SAVE THE DATE!THE DATE! September 16, 2012 Gala September 17, 2012 Tournament Call 865-1300 for more information
September 17, 2012 Tournament l Guidance in preparing a will for charitable remainder trust so that you decide who is to receive all or a portion of your estate. Call 865-1300 for more information
Courtney Family Foundation FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION! l Obtaining life insurance as a gift which allows a tax deduction for the policies already owned or ones l Understanding and establishing a living trust frequently used today since it provides the means to distribute and manage your assets.
Life Together! a quarterly publication of the CouncilYOU of THANKisYOU FOR YOUR THANK PARTICIPATION! Churches of the Ozarks, designed to inform readers of current Golf Tournament Committee Golf Tournament Committee purchased, with the beneficiary being a non-profit such as the Council of Churches. community needsGeneral and service activities and recognize Chair - agencies Steve Vaught General Chair - Steve Vaught l Retirement plans are one way to give to charity and receive a tax deduction and have assets already donors and volunteers. Life Together! Committee Members:is mailed without charge to Committee Members: available for•retirement. anyone interested in •the of Churches the Ozarks. Nancy Nancy Wood • Chuck Wood Woolley BobCouncil Meek • Chuck • Ann Hall • Josh of Woolley Moore • Tony Shalloup • Bob Meek Ann Hall • Josh Moore • Tony Shalloup
Silver Sponsors • Butler, and Partners Anne-Mary Anne-Mary McGrath • Daphne Ewing McGrath • David Dunn • Brad •Eldridge Daphne • Bill SouthworthEwing • Dunn • Rosenbury Brad Eldridge •to Bill Southworth l David Gifts that give back appreciated assets such as real estate may be the best way make a donation and Council of Churches of the Ozarks "Mac" "Mac" McCartney/Larry McCartney/Larry Freund (Coordinators) • Christine Moses • Jean Freund Harmison (Coordinators) • Christine Moses • Jean Harmison increase your annual income, while using the asset for the remainder of your life. Packaging • Peck Insurance & Financial Services • SMC Dorsey E. Levell Ministry Center•Richard of theEslick Ozarks Richard Scott • Tom Fenton David • Guy Fox Scott • Tom Fenton • David Eslick • Guy Fox Making sure your money and 2012 property is dividedSeptember properly after your death is your responsibility. Get peace September 16, 17, 2012 627 N.THE Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802 FOUNDATION, Council THE of Churches FOUNDA of the Ozarks TION, Council of Churches of the Ozarks • Assemblies ofyourGod of mind by learning about your rights so family Theological and/or favorite charitySeminary does not lose their inheritance. MAILING ADDRESS: Board PO Box 3947, Springfield, MO 65808-3947 Board of Directors of Directors Gala/Auction Golf Tournament We can help. Call THE FOUNDATION at 865-1300. Phone: ccozarks@CCOzarks.org Mr. Bill Mr Foster, . 417.862.3586 Chairman Bill Foster • Mr. Don Martin, ,Email: Secretary Chairman • Mr. Stanley Ball, Treasurer • Mr. Don Martin, Secretary • Mr. Stanley Ball, Treasurer • Hlvacek, McIntyre, Yates &Tee Danielson Time: 5:30 PMMorris, Time: Lunch/11:00 AM, Off/Noon Fax: 417.862.2129 Website: www.CCOzarks.org Mr.Mr William . H.William Darr • Mr. Ken Meyer H. • Mr. Larry Darr Freund •• Mr. Mr Ben Parnell . Ken (Emeritus) Meyer • Mr. Larry Freund • Mr. Ben Parnell (Emeritus) Mr. Steve Vaught Mr•.Mr.Steve Ken McClure • Vaught Rev. Mark Struckhoff (Ex. • Officio.) Mr. Ken McClure • Rev. Mark Struckhoff (Ex. Officio.)
Charitable Gift
“It takes a noble person
Highland Springs Country Club Central Office Staff Planning Includes GIFTS GIFTS TO THE TO FOUNDATION THE AREFOUNDA DEDUCTIBLE TO THE LIMITS TION ARE TAX CODE.DEDUCTIBLE TO THE LIMITS OF THE IRS TAX CO Paula Austin • Advancement Assistant • ext. 233OF THE IRS • Remainders from Qualified Pension Plans Springfield, Missouri THE THE FOUNDATION FOUNDA IS A 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE TION FOUNDATION A (SEE 501(C)(3) INSIDE PANEL) CHARITABLE FOUNDA TION (SEE INSIDE PANE Coordinator forIS Homeless Services • ext. 225 Romona Baker • Resource • Endowment Gifts Katie Battalia • Marketing Intern • Gifts of Appreciated Property • Wills and Bequests Barbara Gardner • Executive Assistant/HR • ext. 224 • Life Estate Gifts Janet Garoutte • Receptionist Your gift of $100 or more to Council of Churches of the Ozarks will be • Charitable Gift Annuity Rick George • Director of Finance and Operations • ext. 232 • Life Insurance Christine Moses • Director of Marketing & Development • ext. 238 matched dollar-for-dollar up to $55,500. The gifts received will be part • Gifts of Securities Lesa Nelson • Grant Assistant • ext. 235 • Charitable Remainder Trusts, and more . . . D. Elton Trueblood, Earlham College of the CCO annual fund and will go to– Dr. work immediately this year. Kelsie Schreiber • Homeless Connection Intern Mark Struckhoff • Executive Director 14 Life Together! Ruth Warren • Accounting Assistant
Challenge Partners to plant a seed for a tree •Ollis & Company, Rick’s thatAutomotive will one day provide
shade to those who he may never meet.”
The Council of Churches Foundation Phone: 417.839.7450
16 life Together!
Sponsorships are still available to reach our goal of $75,000 for matching funds. Contact Christine at 417-862-3586 to learn more about becoming a sponsor of the Power of Together.