Gathered Around the Table
A new client usually walks into Circle of Concern alone. Anxious, desperate and maybe embarrassed about needing help, new people often feel like they are alone at the bottom of a well of sadness. From that point, though, clients aren’t isolated anymore, thanks to a wellspring of volunteer help with food and programs, along with our staff that lines up resources.
The circle is bigger than that, though. Along with our generous donors in the community, a critical group, of which Circle is a member, is working behind the scenes to serve families impacted by hunger and poverty across the region – the St. Louis Food Pantry Coalition. Working from the point of view that, unfortunately, there are more than enough hungry people in our area to keep us all busy, the dozen members of the Coalition gather monthly to share ideas and opportunities about many topics, including:
- Enlisting volunteers
- Raising funds
- Vetting vendors
- Sharing excess food donations
- Sharing best practices in pantry management
The Coalition was instrumental last year in Circle’s launching of the Client Choice pantry model. A committee of Circle staff and volunteers visited other Choice pantries in the coalition for insight into how others implemented this best practice. With that input, we launched Choice with minimal down-time and immediate success for our clients. According to Michelle Lepak, Circle’s Pantry Director, the Coalition has offered valuable collaboration. “Sharing information, ideas and resources makes us all more effective in feeding families and promoting stability for those who are struggling. We value this group so much.”
August 2019 E-News:
Garden of Goodness.
Gardeners are patient people. It can feel like forever from the time a tiny seed or plant becomes a perfectly ripe tomato, but patience makes the time pass. About six years have passed since Parkway Southwest Middle School first broke ground on a new community garden and made plans to share fresh produce with Circle. Since that time, the program has grown to provide hundreds of pounds of produce, offering variety and wholesome foods to Circle clients.
During the school year, the fruits and vegetables are used by the school cafeteria or are devoured out-of-hand by students eager to taste their first homegrown strawberry! More than just a place to grow food, the garden is used by various classes for focused learning – by home economics classes, as a science lab, by shop classes to build raised bed and bird houses and as an outdoor classroom, thanks to the ring of the tree trunk stools.
Many thanks to the students and faculty of Southwest Middle, community volunteers who support the students during the summer, Gateway Greening and, especially, to Greenscape Gardens Nursery that generously provides any supplies needed in the garden. You all are truly gardening for good!
August 2019 E-News:
Husband and wife duo are shining examples of devotion to service
Carl and Betty Quicksall were among a small group of volunteers recently honored by Circle with the President’s Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, having each logged over 4,000 hours of service at Circle of Concern! And while the time served by this extraordinary couple is astounding, the work they have done – and continue to do — is even more so.
Betty is a long-time case worker, helping our clients to access emergency financial assistance, counseling, housing and various services at Circle and beyond our doors. She is a passionate client advocate, often handling the most difficult family circumstances; and she does so with patience, compassion and vigor.
She also leads our Summer Opportunities Program, ensuring that eligible children and youths get to access fun, enriching (sometimes life-changing) summer camp programs.
One of her most notable roles at Circle was Board President – a position she held for ten years! “I am happy to say there is now a term limit,” she says!
Carl has long managed Circle’s IT department. He is a self-trained programmer, a life-long learner, and frankly… “darn near irreplaceable here at Circle,” says executive director Cyndi Miller. Working both onsite and remotely, Carl addresses IT tasks and challenges seven days a week. He recently led a seamless building-wide upgrade of software and hardware for 22 work stations throughout Circle.
Together, this devoted duo has served a total of 49 years at Circle! And while this humble pair is less than impressed with their “big award,” we can assure them that their fellow volunteers, our Board and our staff are grateful — and in awe of their devotion to “all things Circle!”
Thank you! COC’s 15th Annual Golf Tournament
St. Mark’s Presbyterian’s 15th annual golf tournament benefiting Circle of Concern was a huge success! We greatly appreciate our sponsors, staff, and volunteers who worked so hard the day of and the many months leading up to the event.
We are so grateful to St. Mark Presbyterian Church for hosting a successful, sold-out tournament for Circle. It’s the 15th year that the church has hosted the event! The tournament raised nearly $25,000.00. Many, many thanks to our Chairperson, Debbie Brown; our committee; Aberdeen Golf Club; our lead sponsor – Orthopedic Specialists; and all the golfers, volunteers and sponsors!
June 2019 eNewsletter Articles
- Back to School Already?
- Save the Date! Harvest Moon Trivia Night
- Stars in Their Eyes
- Thank you! COC’s 15th Annual Golf Tournament
Stars in Their Eyes
Circle of Concern’s scholarship program has bolstered the academic goals of area young people since at least the second year of our existence. Well over $1 million has helped send hundreds of motivated high school seniors to college, launching them into the careers of their choice.
In 2014, the scholarship program grew. For the first time, Circle awarded small scholarships to adult clients…and the results have been stellar. What started as a vehicle for clients to obtain additional certification, or take an extra class, has evolved into something so much more.
- We assisted one client in completing his accounting degree and taking the CPA exam. He is now employed in his field and is no longer a client.
- Two clients completed their coursework and licensing for Registered Nursing, with help from Circle, and neither needs our services anymore. On a day many of us will never forget, one of these clients came into our office the afternoon she passed her final exam, tears in her eyes. We each got a hug as she thanked everyone for helping make her dream a reality.
- Scholarship awardees want to work. One recipient is pursuing a business degree with a full-time course load at a local university…while working a full-time job…and caring for three children, one of whom is in treatment for cancer.
To say these scholars are worthy of this assistance is to understate how motivated they are to become self-sustained. To say we are proud of their progress and their plans is to understate the intense satisfaction we feel in watching adults change their stars for the better. This program literally changes lives and helps clients to achieve confidence and financial independence. We – and the clients they help – appreciate your support of Circle’s scholarships!
June 2019 eNewsletter Articles
Save the Date! Harvest Moon Trivia Night
Mark your calendars now for Friday, September 13 for our Harvest Moon Trivia Night. For $30 per person, you’ll get a night full of fun (and a few surprises too), open bar with beer, wine, cocktails, and soft drinks! This event will be here before we know it so reserve your table today.
June 2019 eNewsletter Articles
Back to School Already?
While most families are preparing for summer break, Circle of Concern is already thinking back to school. Our team is hard at work gathering school supplies to share with hundreds of our clients’ children come August. How can you help?
Purchasing school supplies many times isn’t in the budget for many of our clients who already struggle to pay for basic items such as groceries and utilities. Each time you go to a grocery or discount store this summer, please pick up a few notebooks (or pens, crayons, markers, lunch bags) or other items that will help our kids feel prepared to study when school starts again.
Children who start the school year with adequate supplies are children who are ready to learn with confidence! Click here for a list of needed items. Donations can be brought to Circle during regular business hours.
June 2019 eNewsletter Articles
Show how much you care with personal care
Local Girl Scout troops will be out and about in early April distributing bags to fill with personal care items that will directly benefit Circle’s clients. The ‘April Showers’ campaign collects items such as shampoo, toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, diapers, toilet paper, and deodorant – all items that Circle’s clients can choose from when they visit the pantry.
Personal care support is critical because, if a client is enrolled in the food stamp, or SNAP, program, those dollars can’t be used for such everyday items as toilet paper, soap or deodorant.
Scouts will put a plastic bag on your door on or about April 6 this year, and they’ll pick them up on April 13, hopefully full of new hygiene items you can share. This HUGE collection provides most of the personal care items we share in a whole year. Over the past few months, we have run short on deodorant and included it on our list of Current Needs. From two nearly empty boxes, our supply of this critical care items has grown to 14 full milk crates, thanks to our readers who respond with such generosity. Many thanks to you!
Join us on the links May 20!
Circle’s 2019 charity golf tournament is just around the corner. Our Presenting Sponsor – Orthopedic Specialists – and our hosts from St. Mark Presbyterian Church welcome you to enjoy a May day of golf on Aberdeen’s challenging links-style course.
Golfers play a four-person scramble format on a zoysia and native grass terrain with sod wall bunkering, two lakes and bentgrass greens against the backdrop of the Meramec River bluffs.
We’ll have an 8 a.m. check-in and 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. Besides the on-course Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Putting and Hole-In-One contests, this popular tournament features a light breakfast, beverages, BBQ, a wine pull and a loaded Live Auction.
Registration is $500 per foursome or $125 per individual golfer.
REGISTER NOW »
Sponsorship Opportunities
We are also seeking individuals and companies for these sponsorship opportunities!
Call Cyndi at 636.861.2623 x117 for sponsorship benefits!
Do you have a heart of gold?
Circle of Concern’s Hearts of Gold Campaign
This month, many will celebrate their loved ones with heart-shaped chocolates, fresh flowers and sweet cards. At Circle of Concern, we hope you’ll help us celebrate the month of love in a more meaningful way through our Hearts of Gold campaign!
We are on a mission to find 28 caring cupids – one for each day in February – to pledge their support to Circle through a food drive, a mini fundraiser, or a monthly contribution of $25 or more. Your pledge can be fulfilled anytime throughout the year.
Anyone who pledges to host a fundraiser or food drive will receive a call from our food pantry coordinator who will provide a current needs list and suggestions for how to make your event a success! Or, sign-up online for monthly automated donations of $25 or more, and we’ll apply your hard-earned dollars toward food and financial assistance that benefit our clients in need.
If you have a heart of gold and wish to pledge your support to Circle of Concern, will you commit today?
I want to pledge a monthly recurring gift »
I want to host a food drive or fundraiser:
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