| CMCA Connection a monthly update focused on empowerment, strength, and resilience. |
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Members of the Missouri Women's Business Center (MoWBC) staff and Advisory Board attended a ribbon cutting with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce at the MoWBC's Columbia office on June 1, 2022. |
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Dear John,
May and June have been busy at Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA). Many programs spent the past two months celebrating annual accomplishments. The Missouri Women’s Business Center, a CMCA program supporting female and other minority entrepreneurs in establishing and growing businesses, celebrated its sixth year of service in late May and early June with ribbon-cutting ceremonies and receptions across CMCA’s service area. Our Head Start centers also hosted celebrations honoring the children graduating from the program and heading to Kindergarten. And our community organizing teams continued to work on community initiatives, including installing “little libraries” throughout the California, MO community. As a member of our Community Promise Team - you can remain informed about the many community events and celebrations being offered by or in partnership with CMCA by visiting our Board Passport page on the CMCA website.
As a supporter of CMCA, you’re part of the Community Action movement, which is powerful! Thank you for supporting the work that CMCA does to ensure that families living with low-income gain the skills and resources necessary to become financially stable and move out of poverty! |
Bingo for Babies raises $10,000 to support women and infants! |
Between games of Bingo, attendees enjoyed opportunities to win prizes by playing other games like Simon Says. |
We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to host our second annual Bingo for Babies event on Thursday, June 2, 2022. More than 100 people gathered at Columbia’s Sentinel Park in the Arcade District to support the Women and Infant Relief Fund (WIRF) through participation in games of Bingo and other fun activities.
“The first time we hosted Bingo for Babies was in 2018,” says Jackie Rivera, Health Administrator for CMCA’s Head Start programs. “We weren’t able to have the event in the past few years due to COVID, so it was exciting to have friends and supporters together again!”
The event’s purpose was to raise funds for the WIRF program, which provides diapers, wipes, breastfeeding, and other necessary items to new and expecting moms and their babies. Funds raised from event sponsorships, ticket sales, a silent auction, and additional games will go a long way toward relieving the pressure low-income parents feel due to economic inflation and limited resources.
“On any given day, one in three families with low income may face the decision between buying diapers for their child or buying food for the family,” says Rivera. “WIRF ensures that these families don’t have to make such difficult choices.”
WIRF is an entirely donor-driven program that does not receive federal or state funding. Head Start families in the eleven mid-Missouri counties served by CMCA (Audrain, Boone, Benton, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Hickory, Howard, Moniteau, Morgan, and Osage) are eligible for support through WIRF, including pre and post-natal support as well as crisis support.
Please click the button below if you’d like to support WIRF or any of our other programs. |
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Housing Choice Vouchers provide safe housing for families |
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The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program helps pay a subsidy towards the rent for low-income persons so that they can live in a house, condo, duplex, townhome, apartment, or mobile home of their choice. There are five types of housing vouchers available.
Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) HCVs are provided to families by CMCA who meet the income guidelines for their area. CMCA provides these vouchers to families living in Callaway (except the city of Fulton), Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau, and Osage counties. Some cities in these counties have their own Housing Authority systems that provide vouchers. DMH - Rental Assistance Program (RAP) RAP vouchers provide one-time assistance to (1) prevent eviction and re-establish housing stability; (2) assist households in moving into safe and affordable rental housing. This assistance helps households with adequate resources rent on their own once they have received aid.
Mainstream Vouchers Mainstream vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities. Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
The VASH program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans. CMCA receives referrals for VASH from the Harry S.Truman VA Hospital in Columbia, MO. Foster Youth Independence Vouchers
This program allows Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to request housing choice vouchers (HCVs) to serve youth under 25 with a history of child welfare involvement. |
CMCA Volunteers of the Year celebrated |
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Pictured above: Karen Taylor, Pastor of Missions and Discipleship. Darin Preis, CMCA Executive Director; Stefani Thompson, CMCA Community Organizer Cole County; and Trevor Dancer, Senior Pastor. |
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Volunteer Michael Pryor receives his award from Darin Preis, CMCA Executive Director. |
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At CMCA, we know that our work wouldn’t be possible without the support of volunteers and community partners. For this reason, we nominate dedicated volunteers and partners each year and select a winner from each category. Two individuals received nominations for the Volunteer of the Year award, and seven groups received nominations for Partner of the Year. Narrowing the nominees down to one winner in each category is never easy. All are worthy of recognition for their contributions to CMCA.
This year’s Partner of the Year is the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Jefferson City. Stefani Thompson, a CMCA community organizer, made the nomination.
“First United Methodist Church has supported every project I have presented in the community, no matter how big or small,” says Thompson.
Thompson cited that the FUMC never hesitates to offer space for training events or meetings presented by CMCA. The church, staff, and congregation are active in the community, supporting the homeless population, families in crisis, and CMCA’s special events.
We are truly grateful to everyone at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City for your ongoing support and partnership!
The 2022 Volunteer of the Year is Michael Pryor. Mr. Pryor has been a volunteer Foster Grandparent for many years, working with students at local schools to support their educational and social/emotional needs. He also assists with Boone County Poverty Simulations. These events provide opportunities for community members who haven’t experienced poverty to learn what it’s like to live in poverty. As someone who has experienced poverty firsthand, Mr. Pryor shares his experiences to help others understand the realities of living in poverty. In addition to his work as a Foster Grandparent and Poverty Simulation volunteer, Mr. Pryor also serves on the Board of Directors for Central Missouri Community Action.
Michael was nominated for Volunteer of the year by Kelley Lucero, Community Organizer for Boone County.
“He has always been dedicated to Community Action and is willing to help the movement in any way he can,” says Lucero. “He is a leader in the community and is loved by the children he works with at Benton Elementary.”
She adds, “Michael lives the Promise of Community Action with a dedication to making his community a better place to live.”
We are grateful to Michael Pryor, the First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City, and all others nominated for their work with CMCA. Your service makes the seemingly impossible - possible! |
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Join Us for Two Chairs and Some Potted Plants, a monthly Facebook Live Broadcast!
Our next “Two Chairs and Some Potted Plants” Facebook Live is Thursday, June 23, 2022. We will be chatting with our SkillUp team. SkillUP is a free program that helps Food Stamp (SNAP) recipients get help with skills, training, and employer connections to get a job (or a better job). Please join us at NOON on June 23!
ABOUT THE BROADCAST
To help you better understand how our programs and services fit into the Steps to Success, we are hosting a monthly Facebook Live broadcast called Two Chairs and Some Potted Plants. During these 15-minute episodes, you’ll have a chance to meet and hear from CMCA staff, clients, and donors as they talk about the programs, services, and other ways that CMCA helps families through the Steps to Success. Follow us on Facebook to receive alerts so you won’t miss upcoming broadcasts! |
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