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:
Fill out the form below:
Wishes Granted
For the first time, more than 500 families – 529, to be exact – were adopted through Circle’s Holiday Adoption program! That number represents 1,891 individuals in those families who received gifts directly from their wish list thanks to the generosity of area families, businesses, schools, clubs, churches and others.
With military precision, gifts stood in rows at Community Christian Church, waiting for pick-up. Bicycles, toys, household items, clothing – even a log-splitter and a 100 pound tub of dog food – have warmed the holidays and lives of people for whom the season would have been a bit more cold.
Thank you to members of our community who brought the spirit of the season home for 529 families!
Lucky Lifetime 13
The late president, George H. W. Bush, was instrumental in establishing Points of Light, an organization that encourages and empowers the spirit of service through volunteerism. This organization sponsors the President’s Volunteer Service Awards, through which certified nonprofit groups can recognize their volunteer stars.
Circle has used these award pins for many years to thank our cherished volunteers. In 2018, we launched a new level of recognition – the Lifetime Achievement Award – that acknowledges the selfless service of those volunteers in 2018 who have brought their best to our clients for at least 4,000 hours since they began working with Circle.
The following recipients received a Lifetime pin and the grateful thanks of Circle’s clients, staff and board of directors:
- Dianne Bishop
- Betty Quicksall
- Barbara Brown
- Carl Quicksall
- Sally Edmiston
- Alva Rozar
- Pam Gausling
- Pat Shannon
- Pat Heitmeier
- Bobbie Siesennop
- Ted Heitmeier
- Carol Vandable
- Sue Hoffman
Identifying recipients of this award wasn’t easy … but it was worth it! We looked through records of two different volunteer databases, as well as any paper records that have survived moves, time and flood waters. The volunteers we identified made the entire staff team respond with, “Oh, of course! He/she does so much!”
There is a risk in declaring awards like these – did we miss anyone? If you or someone you know volunteered many, many hours into 2018, please let us know. We want to recognize, you, too!
Thank you to our Lifetime 13 and to all our volunteers that make the efforts of Circle possible.
2019 Circle of Concern Golf Tournament
Save The Date!
For the 15th Annual Circle of Concern Golf Tournament
Aberdeen Golf Club
Monday, May 20, 2019
Presented by Orthopedic Specialists and hosted by St. Mark Presbyterian Church, this tournament supports Circle’s food pantry and other critical programs for West County families. Sponsorships are still available! Visit circleofconcern.org/Events for more information or call Cyndi at 636.861.2623 x117.
The right donation strategy can keep money in your pocket
New tax law is also raising lots of questions about your federal taxes. The Missouri Food Pantry Tax Credit (FPTC) answers one question about your state taxes. How can I pay less in state taxes?
When you give a gift of food or money (including stocks) to Circle, you qualify for Food Pantry Tax Credits. These credits directly reduce the amount you pay for your state income taxes. With a simple form verified by Circle, you can earn up to $2,500 in tax credits when you give up to $5,000. Couples filing jointly can earn up to $5,000 in credits when they give up to $10,000.
To make things easy for you, we will proactively prepare, sign and send the verified form to every donor who gives at least $250 in cash during 2018. The forms will be mailed at the end of January 2019, in plenty of time for your tax preparer to submit it with your state income tax return by April 15, 2019.
Please consider donating Circle this holiday season.
