A much needed helping hand
When people first come to Circle, they are often broken and struggling to get their legs back under themselves after a job loss, an illness or—through this past year—the many challenges of surviving a pandemic. The stories they tell are all poignant; some give a special tug to the heartstrings…
Edward* is struggling. His neurological condition makes it difficult to swallow, and he can’t walk or leave the house much because there’s no ramp for his wheelchair. His wife hasn’t been able to find a job since COVID ended the one she had.
Lynn thought she had enough money to retire modestly. Illness took much of her savings, so she rents a room at a relative’s house, leaving almost nothing for food.
Gloria’s husband left the family when their youngest child wasn’t quite a year old. Child support sometimes comes; often it doesn’t. Food stamps help a little, but beyond food and a little help, what she really needs is employment.
Circle’s food pantry and wrap-around services were there to assist Edward, Gloria and Lynn; will you consider making a contribution to Circle to help the work continue?
Your gift at this time of year is what ensures we have food to share even when community food and fund drives dwindle for the summer. Your generosity is how a family has the electricity to run a fan when the temperature climbs. Your investment in our programs is why a new scholarship recipient celebrates the hope of education to end the cycle of poverty.
Please know that our clients are very grateful to you for helping them get a leg up. We are grateful for your compassion that helps people stand on their own two feet again.
Thank you for reading this letter and considering sending a gift to accomplish the work of Circle.
Thank you for being our kindly companion in the care of others. With gratitude and best wishes for your good health,
— Cyndi Miller
Executive Director
COC May 2021 Enews
Over the moon… Harvest Moon Trivia Night
We’re excited to announce our annual Harvest Moon Trivia Night will be held on September 17, 2021. The event will be virtual this year, but you can expect the same level of fun you’ve come to expect from a Circle event!
Participants will enjoy six fun rounds of trivia, raffle items, and a virtual good time. 100% of the proceeds from this event support the programs of Circle of Concern. Visit our website circleofconcern.org to register your team!
We also have sponsorship opportunities available if you or your company want to support the event in a bigger role.
Presenting Sponsor – $5,000 (exclusive opportunity)
Step up in a big way as our presenting sponsor, and receive prominent recognition as our lead sponsor. Includes special mentions throughout the event and a brief virtual speaking opportunity (recorded or live); logo on event materials, Circle website and in a Circle newsletter article; special Facebook mention with a link to your website or Facebook page; and two teams of eight. Teams will enjoy (6) rounds of trivia, (6) mulligans per team and (3) raffle tickets for each team member; plus two Harvest Moon Party Baskets filled with snacks, wine and other surprises.
Technology Sponsor – $2,500 (exclusive opportunity)
Our Technology Sponsor will receive a special mention during the event, logo on event materials, Circle website and in a Circle newsletter article; special Facebook mention with a link to your website or Facebook page; and one team of eight. Team members will enjoy (6) rounds of trivia, (6) mulligans and (3) raffle tickets for each team member.
Trivia Sponsor – $1,000
Trivia Sponsors will enjoy a special mention during the event, recognition in a Circle newsletter article; a Facebook mention and one team of eight. Team members will enjoy (6) rounds of trivia.
Round Sponsor – $500
Round sponsors will receive a special mention and listing during one round of trivia; and one team of eight. Team members will enjoy (6) rounds of trivia.
Contact Stephanie – stephanie@circleofconcern.org or Cyndi – cyndi@circleofconcern.org or call us at 636.861.2623 for more information.
COC May 2021 Enews
Faithful Friends
Members of Manchester United Methodist Church pose for a photo after dropping off personal care items.
Circle of Concern has a long history tied to local congregations. The organization was founded in the mid 60’s by people from a handful of local congregations wanting to help families in need. Today, Circle’s relationships with neighboring congregations in West St. Louis County still remain an invaluable asset to the organization. Their support – in the form of food and financial gifts; and volunteer hours – continue to make a significant impact on the families Circle serves.
Most recent examples of faith-based generosity came from Living Word Church in Wildwood and Pathfinder Church in Ellisville. Circle of Concern was named a 2021 Signature Mission by Living Word Church in Wildwood. With this designation comes a major commitment in funding and volunteer support. We are so honored – and grateful. Living Word has been a long-time friend to Circle’s client families, contributing food, funds and volunteer hours.
Pathfinder Church Community Engagement Director, David Jameson, recently came to visit and delivered a large cash donation from the church. He explained that the congregation and leadership decided to donate 100 percent of the collections from a recent weekend service to help families with basic and emergency needs. They split the proceeds between Circle of Concern Food Pantry and a mission in North St. Louis County. We are so honored and grateful!
COC March 2021 Enews
A Note from Cyndi…
There are those moments that forever change the way you think. I had such an occasion a few weeks ago. Oprah would say I had an “Aha moment.”
I was in the warehouse, working with our volunteers to sort through the sea of food donations that had arrived just before the holidays. Our pantry director, Michelle Lepak, and client services director, Niki Vandable, came through the door. We had helped a new client family earlier that day, and the mother sent an email – a heartfelt thank you. Michelle and Niki waited for my reaction to the note.
The mother explained that both she and her husband had lost their jobs due to Covid-related cutbacks. Unemployment had run out for one, and the other was receiving just over $100 each week. Because there was so little food in the house, the children were staying with a family member.
Now, however, the family had food, and Mom was elated. “I cannot explain how happy I am,” she said. “I love to cook and can really make what you gave us last. Thank you so incredibly much. Know that when I pick (my children) up tomorrow that it is because of you.”
Her words struck me. The hopefulness and excitement, despite the challenges that lie ahead for her family, jumped from the page. Her graciousness – it was important to her that we know we had made things better.
Finally, the simple idea that food—nutritious, filling food—can help a family to be together.
Of course, sharing food is the biggest part of what we do here at Circle of Concern, but that is just one of our many programs. When speaking about our services, I often share that our rent and utility assistance program can keep a family safe and together, under one roof. I am reminded that food can do the same.
We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary ways you stepped forward to help others this past year. Please know that you are an integral part of keeping families together.
Cyndi Miller
– Executive Director Circle of Concern
COC March 2021 Enews
Welcome to Circle!
We are excited to welcome Edie Quick and Brandi Hamm, the newest additions to Circle of Concern’s board! Edie has volunteered at Circle as an intake /caseworker for more than ten years and has been active on our special event committees. She is retired but has a professional background in psychiatric social work and parent education.
Currently she serves on the Board of the St. Louis Area Japanese American Citizens League. Edie is excited to be serving as a Circle Board member and applauds the board for recruiting members from among Circle’s volunteer ranks. Welcome aboard, Edie!
Brandi Hamm came to know about Circle as a donor and Holiday Adoption sponsor; and through her employment at one of Circle’s corporate funders – Cigna (formerly Express Scripts). Brandi is a healthcare executive with a professional background in pharmacy, business administration, account management and marketing. She has volunteered and raised funds for a number of organizations, including Make-a-Wish, The American Cancer Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Welcome aboard, Brandi!
COC March 2021 Enews
Contributions, CARES Act and COVID
The CARES Act was signed into law to help provide some financial stability and relief to individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. Among the provisions in the Act are a number of impactful charitable giving and federal taxes:
- An above-the-line deduction of $300 is available to individuals for cash contributions to charities, regardless of whether you itemize deductions.
- For individuals who itemize their deductions for charitable giving, the 60 percent of adjusted gross income limit for cash gifts is suspended for 2020.
- For corporations, the normal 10 percent limit on charitable contributions is increased to 25 percent of taxable income.
If you’re planning a year-end donation and want to benefit from CARES Act tax changes, consider a one-time payment and recurring charitable donations to Circle. Donations are easy to setup through our online donation page: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E168088&id=2.
There is also comfort in planning ahead when it comes to charitable giving. If estate planning is on your 2021 calendar, will you consider including Circle of Concern in your will or trust? For more information about how to extend your legacy into the future, talk to your financial planner or contact cyndi@circleofconcern.org.
Contact your tax preparer for strategies to take advantage of these provisions in your year-end giving.
COC December 2020 Enews
Truth Be Told
As I reflect back on 2020, I think about the many lessons learned and truths that, for me, were reaffirmed.
Truth – Necessity is the mother of invention. Yes, it is a cliché. Regardless, I marveled at the ingenuity of others this year. Some ventured into mask making. Others manufactured life-saving equipment. Curbside service became the order of the day – and Circle followed suit. We delivered groceries curbside and curtailed large events like Back to School, our annual Thanksgiving Basket distribution and our ever-growing Holiday Adoption event.
Gift cards saved the day, allowing us to help families with school supplies, kid-friendly foods and even holiday gifts, and our clients accepted these with awe, never expecting to receive such gifts.
Truth – Regardless of socioeconomic standing, our life circumstances can change in an instant, so be kind. The 2020 pandemic was a ruthless foe, taking from too many of us our employment, savings, businesses, our sense of security – and even loved ones. Some communities suffered these losses even more; hourly workers, black and brown people, the elderly and small business owners experienced unprecedented losses. Let’s recognize that we don’t always know the circumstances of another, and that in some ways, our own circumstances can be as precarious as theirs. Let’s be kind. Then let’s go beyond pleasantries and look for impactful ways to help, heal and champion one another.
Truth – There is such good in this world. Despite the personal and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to area families and businesses, our community stepped up in big, big ways. Here at Circle, donations of food and funds spiked like never before as so many decided to put others first.
Corporate funders increased their giving or sent their annual gifts early. Individual donors contributed their federal stimulus dollars, saying, “There are others who need this more than me.” Some donated gift cards from area restaurants – doubling the impact of their giving. When the postal service cancelled their annual Letter Carriers Food Drive (a large drive for Circle), one of our church supporters organized a “Hope Wins” drive-through food drive drawing hundreds of cars, packed to the brim with food, personal care items and diapers.
When we dramatically adapted the way we operate, it meant fewer volunteers on smaller work teams. Most of our volunteers have stayed home, and we’ve missed them. Those who were able to serve masked up and jumped in, taking on new tasks and often working more shifts and longer hours.
We hate that “client choice” has had to go by the wayside for now and that clients must receive what we pre-bag for them. Our families have quickly adapted to our new curbside model, though, so grateful for support during this time and overwhelmed by the goodness of others. I remember the story of one woman who, with tears in her eyes, said, “It’s so much! It’s so much!” Another wanted to know, “Can I bring your team anything?” A few days ago, a client brought a basket of seed packets harvested from her own garden – each packet penned with encouraging words, like “Marigold Seeds. Where flowers bloom, hope grows also. God bless you.” She asked us to share these with volunteers and staff.
The year, without question, has been bittersweet. There were great losses, but the goodness of so many pushed us forward. We know that better days are on the horizon, and we look forward to the day when we can extend a hand or our arms and say with a smile, “Bring it in!” We will never take these simple gestures for granted again.
COC December 2020 Enews
The Only Way is Through…
When every normal path in life looks different than it used to, with uncertainty around each corner, the road can look pretty dark. For many of us, we’re on that bleak stretch of road right now, thanks to the current pandemic.
Not one of us is alone on that road. And many of us are feeling the impact and stressors caused by what’s happening. Sleeplessness, fear of getting sick, worry over finances, missed milestones, the inability to plan for the future, worries for the health of those around you, generalized feelings of sadness and fear – these are all common responses.
“Some subtler things are going on, too,” says Niki Vandable, LCSW, Circle of Concern’s Client Services Director and a licensed clinical social worker. “Prolonged exposure to this type of stress causes your brain and body to go into “survival” mode. Your brain is temporarily diverting your energy to staying alive and to adjusting in our constantly changing world. You are also likely grieving the loss of normalcy, and thus flowing in and out of various stages of grief.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, coping with stress in healthy ways will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger. Here are some key tips:
- Start with your own body – deep breaths and regular stretching, along with healthy meals, adequate sleep, exercise and limited alcohol and drug use keep you primed to handle temporary stressors.
- Connect with others every day – video or text chats, a phone call, 2-sided tic tac toe on a glass door or a properly distanced driveway-to-driveway conversation remind us we’re not alone in the darkest times.
- Limit your news and social media intake – a steady diet of bad news keeps fear and anxiety elevated.
- Laugh at something every day – cartoons, family pictures, pet videos or some classic Stooges decrease stress hormones and trigger endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemical.
- Ask for help – if simple coping techniques don’t work, know that you’re not alone and that help is available. Tell someone you trust how you are feeling, call your doctor’s office for a referral, call 1-800-662-HELP (the national Helpline of the government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) for local resources or dial 911 in you feel you are in crisis.
Niki adds, “The best advice I can give is to treat yourself, and those around you, with the same grace and kindness you would show to a loved one who has fallen on hard times. Try to practice patience, openness, support, and understanding. And practice forgiveness if or when things fall short of expectations. We are all going through this “hard time” collectively and trying to make it to the other side the best as we can. Try to take this day-by-day, or even hour-by-hour, and know that it will not last forever. We are all quite literally in this together.”
A generous grant from the Chiron Fund of the St. Louis Community Foundation is helping our clients address mental health challenges during these difficult times. Thank you!
August 2020 E-news:
A Note from Cyndi
One day last week, I picked up my phone to hear a heartfelt message from a new client.
“This is Barbara _____. I picked up food today at your place, and I want to thank you. There are not enough words…I just really felt a relief, like something heavy just came off my back…thank you, thank you so much. God bless you all.”
What an affirming message. That this individual, with all that she’s juggling, with all her concerns…she took the time to say, in essence “thank you – you made a difference for me. I feel hopeful now.”
The Covid-19 Pandemic has delivered a year like no other. We cannot know now the long-lasting impact of lost loved ones, forced (but necessary) isolation and distancing, remote schooling, missed milestones and shuttered businesses. We cannot possibly know the trauma that so many healthcare workers have endured. While there is much to be grateful for, there is much uncertainty. When will this end?
The federal relief dollars, in the form of stimulus payments and enhanced unemployment support, seemed to have helped those most affected by the economic shut down. While we had a spike in the numbers of clients seeking support in March, — April, May and June showed a leveling off. Now, as those federal benefits taper off, and yet more companies furlough or fold, our numbers are beginning to increase.
Your support – especially during this time – is so very appreciated. Because you give food and funds to support our work, Barbara and others like her can feel the weight lifted – they can get the help they need. You bring help and hope to our friends and neighbors. Together, we will get through this difficult time. My best wishes for your safety and continued good health!
Gratefully,
Cyndi Miller
August 2020 E-news:
Why Avoiding Eviction is So Important
A home is a safe haven. It’s a comfort zone where families can snuggle up together, enjoy laughs and make memories. It’s a stable foundation on which to build a future.
While a home is important, it is also the largest single expenditure for most households, especially with housing costs on the rise. When financial burdens such as job loss, illness or disability occur, paying a mortgage or rent is often impossible while trying to cover basic needs such as food, transportation, and childcare. An unexpected crisis can lead to eviction; and that can be an overwhelming challenge to overcome.
The Lasting Effects of Losing a Home
For families, eviction can have traumatic impact on mental and financial well-being. The instability of sleeping in shelters or motels can make it difficult for children to concentrate in school, and parents can have an extremely hard time getting ready for work or preparing for job interviews while living out of a suitcase. Homelessness is also known to cause depression, as both parents and children struggle to cope with the guilt and shame often associated with losing a home. And because eviction stays on a credit report for seven years, it’s often hard to find housing again after regaining financial stability. Even beyond seven years, some landlords refuse to rent to anyone who has ever had an eviction. It’s a vicious circle that many in unfortunate situations go through.
Circle of Concern Works to Prevent Eviction
When clients come to our food pantry, they are often just weeks away from being unable to pay for other necessities beyond food. First, it may be a car payment, then a utility bill, and rent and mortgage funds are not far behind. Through generous donations from individuals and businesses in our community, we are able to offer emergency financial assistance to help qualifying clients pay utility bills, stay in their homes, and address other short-term immediate needs. We also offer financial mentoring and guidance to help clients avoid eviction. Whether it’s securing a second job, accessing other resources, down-sizing to a smaller apartment or home or negotiating with creditors, our case workers can help our client families to strategize the best course of action. Keeping families in safe, secure housing is critical.
How You Can Help
Short-term financial assistance for our clients is only available as funds allow. If you would like to help us keep families in their own homes, please know that eighty-four cents of every dollar you donate directly supports client programs and services. To make a donation, click here or mail a check to:
Circle of Concern
112 St. Louis Avenue
P.O. Box 444
Valley Park, MO 63088
