NEWS
Over the moon… Harvest Moon Trivia Night
We’re excited to announce our annual Harvest Moon Trivia Night will be held on September 17, 2021. The event will be virtual this year, but you can expect the same level of fun you’ve come to expect from a Circle event! Participants will enjoy six fun rounds of trivia, raffle items, and a virtual good time. 100% of the proceeds from this event support the programs of Circle of Concern. Visit our website www.circleofconcern.org to register your team! We also have sponsorship opportunities available if you or your company want to support the event in a bigger role. Presenting Sponsor...
Faithful Friends
Members of Manchester United Methodist Church pose for a photo after dropping off personal care items. Circle of Concern has a long history tied to local congregations. The organization was founded in the mid 60’s by people from a handful of local congregations wanting to help families in need. Today, Circle’s relationships with neighboring congregations in West St. Louis County still remain an invaluable asset to the organization. Their support – in the form of food and financial gifts; and volunteer hours – continue to make a significant impact on the families Circle serves. Most recent examples of faith-based generosity...
A Note from Cyndi…
There are those moments that forever change the way you think. I had such an occasion a few weeks ago. Oprah would say I had an “Aha moment.” I was in the warehouse, working with our volunteers to sort through the sea of food donations that had arrived just before the holidays. Our pantry director, Michelle Lepak, and client services director, Niki Vandable, came through the door. We had helped a new client family earlier that day, and the mother sent an email – a heartfelt thank you. Michelle and Niki waited for my reaction to the note. The mother...
Welcome to Circle!
We are excited to welcome Edie Quick and Brandi Hamm, the newest additions to Circle of Concern’s board! Edie has volunteered at Circle as an intake /caseworker for more than ten years and has been active on our special event committees. She is retired but has a professional background in psychiatric social work and parent education. Currently she serves on the Board of the St. Louis Area Japanese American Citizens League. Edie is excited to be serving as a Circle Board member and applauds the board for recruiting members from among Circle’s volunteer ranks. Welcome aboard, Edie! Brandi Hamm came...
Contributions, CARES Act and COVID
The CARES Act was signed into law to help provide some financial stability and relief to individuals and businesses affected by COVID-19. Among the provisions in the Act are a number of impactful charitable giving and federal taxes: An above-the-line deduction of $300 is available to individuals for cash contributions to charities, regardless of whether you itemize deductions. For individuals who itemize their deductions for charitable giving, the 60 percent of adjusted gross income limit for cash gifts is suspended for 2020. For corporations, the normal 10 percent limit on charitable contributions is increased to 25 percent of taxable income....
Truth Be Told
As I reflect back on 2020, I think about the many lessons learned and truths that, for me, were reaffirmed. Truth – Necessity is the mother of invention. Yes, it is a cliché. Regardless, I marveled at the ingenuity of others this year. Some ventured into mask making. Others manufactured life-saving equipment. Curbside service became the order of the day – and Circle followed suit. We delivered groceries curbside and curtailed large events like Back to School, our annual Thanksgiving Basket distribution and our ever-growing Holiday Adoption event. Gift cards saved the day, allowing us to help families with school...
The Only Way is Through…
When every normal path in life looks different than it used to, with uncertainty around each corner, the road can look pretty dark. For many of us, we’re on that bleak stretch of road right now, thanks to the current pandemic. Not one of us is alone on that road. And many of us are feeling the impact and stressors caused by what’s happening. Sleeplessness, fear of getting sick, worry over finances, missed milestones, the inability to plan for the future, worries for the health of those around you, generalized feelings of sadness and fear – these are all common...
A Note from Cyndi
One day last week, I picked up my phone to hear a heartfelt message from a new client. “This is Barbara _____. I picked up food today at your place, and I want to thank you. There are not enough words…I just really felt a relief, like something heavy just came off my back…thank you, thank you so much. God bless you all.” What an affirming message. That this individual, with all that she’s juggling, with all her concerns…she took the time to say, in essence “thank you – you made a difference for me. I feel hopeful now.” The...
Why Avoiding Eviction is So Important
A home is a safe haven. It’s a comfort zone where families can snuggle up together, enjoy laughs and make memories. It’s a stable foundation on which to build a future. While a home is important, it is also the largest single expenditure for most households, especially with housing costs on the rise. When financial burdens such as job loss, illness or disability occur, paying a mortgage or rent is often impossible while trying to cover basic needs such as food, transportation, and childcare. An unexpected crisis can lead to eviction; and that can be an overwhelming challenge to overcome....
Open for Business
Following a brief closing in early April to shore up our volunteer efforts and further safety measures, we were thrilled to re-open our doors to clients on April 13. We are now serving through curbside delivery on Wednesdays and Fridays. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are busy prepping food and packing many grocery bags. We are currently serving approximately 200 families per week! Thanks to our amazing volunteers and those in the community who continue to donate funds and grocery items, we have been able to handle the increased demand, however the need continues to grow as more and more families...
