Dear John

As a valued partner of Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) I am writing to let you know that, after a two-week closure to allow our employees time to adjust to working remotely, CMCA is now actively serving families in mid-Missouri. To adhere to the “Shelter in Place” mandate currently active in Missouri our facilities are closed but our staff is working remotely to address the immediate and long-term needs of individuals and families.

Like many organizations and businesses, CMCA is adapting to provide much-needed support in new and creative ways.

For those seeking emergency energy assistance, we’ve set up safe drop-boxes to receive assistance applications.
Our Community Organizing team members have forwarded all family resource center phones to their own phones so that they can respond to immediate needs.
Our Show Me Healthy Relationships program is utilizing the internet to provide continued learning through online classes and,
our Women's Business Center has been busy helping small businesses access loans and support for their employees.
Head Start Teachers and Coaches are communicating with all of the families we serve on a regular basis.
We are also making plans to re-open Head Start centers for the children of essential employees starting as soon as April 20.

We are committed to keeping our employees working (mostly from home) and getting paid. Some are going through extensive online training programs to ramp up their professional development and others are getting alternate work assignments. We can't be effective for our communities without our wonderful staff so we're taking care of them.

Despite not knowing how long we’ll have to stay distant and what impact the COVID 19 pandemic will ultimately have on individuals, families, and communities, CMCA is committed to doing all that we can to identify and address needs as they arise. And, as a strong organization, we are positioned well to participate in the long-term recovery efforts that will follow this pandemic in each of the communities we serve.

We are grateful to you for your support. Please feel free to share information about our services with those who need support. We are anticipating a wave of people affected by the pandemic that have never needed to ask for help before. We want to make the process easy and respectful so they can get back on their feet after this is over.

Your willingness to provide financial resources to support our work ensures that we will not have to turn someone who needs help away. If you'd like to give a financial gift please CLICK HERE. Your support means the world to us and we thank you for helping us help your neighbors and ours remain healthy, safe and strong today and always.