Helping People, Changing Lives

Join us in making this extra day count! A $29 gift today could make a lasting impact by providing diapers and wipes to new mother or providing a week's worth of meals for a Head Start student. 

Building Advocates

An important part of community action is creating more advocates for those in poverty. Our Poverty Simulations are an important way we can do this. Through four, 15-minute "weeks," participants live out the experience of mid-Missouri, low-income families. As they struggle to meet their financial obligations, gain or maintain employment, ensure children are clothed, fed and educated, meet any emergency services that arise, and attempt to navigate the web of social services, emotions rise, and participants grow in empathy and understanding of the challenges those in poverty face.

This month, teachers and staff of the Fulton Public Schools participated in a Poverty Simulation. "I was a child in the simulations," one participant stated. "No one had the time to ask how I was doing, or how school was. It make me think of students in my class who might have way more going on than we realized."

Volunteers are a crucial part of Poverty Simulations.

Changing Lives

Lamar, a resilient 17-year-old who, referred to CMCA by his mother, has embarked on a transformative journey. Recently in the juvenile justice center and a high school drop-out, he was uncertain about his path. Our Community Organizer helped Lamar engage with local resources, pursuing his HiSET credential (which he recently graduated from!) and receiving personalized support through the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act program. Placed at the CMCA-Callaway County Family Resource Center, Lamar not only excelled in his HiSET classes and work experience but also demonstrated a heartwarming commitment to helping others, breaking down generational barriers. He now confidently declares his goal of becoming a Certified Nurses Assistant.

Helping people, changing lives - this is the work we do every day. 

Other CMCA updates:

• We celebrated the official Grand Opening of The Shops at Sharp End, our new retail incubator dedicated to coaching aspiring entrepreneurs, with a focus on women-owned and minority-owned businesses. The Shops at Sharp End are a partnership between CMCA, The District, and Columbia REDI.
• One of our members has been working with a Family Success Coach and has raised her credit score enough to be able to purchase a home!
• In Moniteau County, our Community Organizer planned a Career Fair at California High School, so that students could explore a variety of post-high school options, including job opportunities, higher education, and enlistment options. Educating graduating seniors on their options and how to make a post-high school plan increases their chances of having financial security as an adult.

Your support makes these things and much more possible! Thank you!

Central Missouri Community Action

807-B North Providence Rd
Columbia, MO 65203

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