[music playing] NARRATOR: The following program is a production of Ozarks Public Television.

[music playing] Welcome to Sense of Community.

I'm Michele Skalicky.

As the holidays approach, nonprofits in the community are busy trying to meet the increased need for food and other items.

One of those is Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

Last year, CCO helped more than 8,200 guests with food and gifts over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Joining us today is Jaimie Trussell, CEO of Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

She'll talk about the need this year and tell us more about what her organization does.

Stay tuned.

[music playing] NARRATOR: Welcome to "Sense of Community."

"Sense of Community" is a public affairs presentation of Ozarks Public Television.

Welcome, Jamie.

Thanks for coming by to talk to me today.

First, tell us about Council of Churches of the Ozarks, what you do, and talk about some of the programs that are sort of under the umbrella of Council of Churches.

Absolutely.

Thanks so much for having me here today.

I will tell you Council of Churches is probably the best-kept secret in Southwest Missouri.

We've been around for over five decades, and most people have no idea all the services that we offer.

There are over 10 different distinct programs-- some of the best-known-- Crosslines Food Pantry-- it's been around since 1969, Ambassadors for Children Clothing Closet, and Safe to Sleep.

Those are probably the ones we're best known for.

But, as I mentioned, the list goes on and on.

And today, we're really here to talk about one particular program, Crosslines.

We'll get to that in just a moment.

But I want to go more into Council of Churches itself first.

What kind of assistance does CCO offer to those 18 and under?

Well, our heart is really children.

I mean, goodness.

You talk about the most vulnerable residents in our community, and it's those little kids.

And so for a long time, we've worked in partnership with Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, and they actually came under our umbrella just two years ago.

So we keep babies dry, and a dry baby is a happy baby.

This year, we just received our numbers-- 1.5 million diapers distributed through Crosslines Food Pantry.

The Ambassadors for Children program has foster support programs not only to provide clothing and essential items, health and hygiene items for families in foster care, but also, a sense of community, as well as education and support.

It's a tough situation and circumstance.

We also provide resources for therapies not covered by insurance.

So things that a lot of kids take for granted-- clarinet lessons, for instance-- are not covered under the Missouri support for foster families.

So if your child wants to play the clarinet or take equine therapy or art lessons, the Council of Churches actually has a way to make those things possible as well.

We were just talking before we went on the air that I played clarinet.

That's the reference.

And it's a great thing for people to do, to take advantage of some of those opportunities.

The children in foster care-- their lives get really interrupted even under the best case.

And so we really try to soften some of those edges and make sure those families and the children have everything they need to thrive.

And then you also offer programs for adults ages 19 to 65.

What are some of the programs that you offer for that age group?

Oh, the list goes on and on.

So we really group our programming in combating poverty.

So we try to get in front of poverty and prevent poverty.

So we have emergency rental assistance programs.

So if a person, an adult, finds themself in danger of losing-- being evicted, losing housing, we have programs that can assist them in that way.

We also have food resources.

Again, all the things that might be a barrier for families to thrive, we offer that.

But there are programs such as ombudsman, which actually visit long-term residents in long-term care facilities.

You imagine how isolating COVID was for all of us.

Imagine if you were in an assisted living environment, and you had outlived your support network.

You didn't have kids visiting you.

You didn't have family members checking in on you.

Our long-term care ombudsman program puts volunteers.

They visited over 18,000 residents last year.

And it's not just to say hello and visit.

We do that, certainly.

But it's to make sure they're being well cared for, and that they have all the resources they need, again, to thrive in their golden years.

I was going to ask, what programs do you offer for seniors?

And I know that's one.

But what other programs do you offer for those over 65?

There are a lot of programs specific to that age group.

And, again, they are very vulnerable in today's society.

So they are-- obviously, we have food assistance available because as you think of inflation and how it's impacted your bottom line, think if you're living on a fixed income.

That didn't go up.

Your expenses went up, but your fixed income didn't go up.

So we have a lot of seniors who visit our food pantry.

We also deliver food boxes to a lot of seniors.

So we utilize volunteers to come pick up the commodities that those seniors would be entitled to based on their income requirements, and we take them right to their house.

We also have an awesome program called Homebound Shopping, which goes and-- seniors who have resources but can't get to the store-- imagine shopping with a wheelchair or a walker.

We pair them with a couple who will do their shopping for them.

And so the program is wonderful because the senior gets the foods that they want, and they get to go to the stores that they want vicariously through another couple.

But what is beautiful is the relationship that is really built between those volunteers and that person.

They have someone checking in on them every week, and it is amazing to see some of the beautiful stories that come out of that program.

And it sounds like with all that you do, you've got to have a need for volunteers.

And we'll talk about that throughout the program because I know that's important.

How many volunteers do you have?

And is there always a need for volunteers?

There is always a need for volunteers.

We joke at the Council that we are only able to serve as many people as we are able to serve because we have 40 staff, not all of whom are full-time.

But we have at least 40 volunteers every single day who show up and donate their time to serve our population.

Last year over 8,000 volunteer shifts were covered.

We probably could have used another 2,000 to 3,000 volunteer shifts covered.

We love to say we have an opportunity for every age and every ability-- so everything from wrapping diapers, to packing groceries, to restocking shelves, to signing thank you notes, to answering the phones.

Right now, if you visited the council's headquarters, you would see volunteers taking holiday applications, sitting down and just visiting with families in need and finding out what their obstacles are.

At our women's shelter, we actually have volunteers who watch over the women while they sleep every single night.

We call it Safe to Sleep.

And those volunteers are how we ensure it's safe to sleep.

So it sounds like a really rewarding opportunity for anybody who wants to give back and make a difference.

Absolutely.

And all kinds of different time commitments-- everything from I have an hour once a year to I have an hour once a week.

Just-- we have a tutoring and the literacy program that puts volunteers in the schools with kids who are struggling to either read or do math, and we give them all the tools they need.

But yes, there is something for everyone.

We like to think of ourselves as the easy button.

If you want to serve your community, we're the easy button.

We can set you up.

How do you find out more if you would like to volunteer?

Absolutely.

The easiest way is to visit our website.

It's CCO zarks-- so ccozarks.org.

There's a listing of opportunities there, or just call our phone number as well.

We'll get you plugged into an area that makes sense for you.

And this is the time of year when you're seeing a lot more requests for help.

I know you're busy all year long, but this is a particularly busy time of year with the holidays-- Christmas is coming up, other holidays.

Talk about the holiday assistance that Crosslines offers.

Who can-- who can access it?

And what demand are you seeing so far?

Well, I will tell you.

We opened on a Monday for holiday applications at 9:00 AM.

And already by 8:00, the line was out the door, down the hall, and in the parking lot.

The demand, I think, this year will be significant.

I had the opportunity to see the first couple in line and just notice of their demeanor, you know.

They got there early.

They were-- they waited at least an hour because our front door opened at 8:00, but applications didn't open till 9:00.

They were kind of fidgeting.

They were kind of-- you could see frustration maybe was on their face.

I had the privilege of walking in the lobby at the same moment they finished the application process.

And they were like a different couple.

They were beaming They were smiling.

And the sense of relief on their faces was unbelievable.

I'll never forget it.

It's really extraordinary.

You can register in person at our headquarters at 3055 East Division.

And there are two periods.

We usually open in November for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And then again on November 27, we'll open for Christmas distributions.

We'll have a big distribution day with partners in the community to make sure that everyone gets groceries and special holiday items which would make a feast special.

But we also have a toy store for kids.

And we really encourage moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas for whom purchasing presents is a little outside their budget, we really encourage them to come and shop in person and pick out those items.

And we send them home with wrapping paper and ribbon, so that they're the heroes of the story, not the donors and partners of Council of Churches, which they are the heroes.

We know that.

But it's really important to us that those families know that they are providing for their kids.

And we'll see thousands during this process.

And this year, I will tell you, it looks like we're going to see a significant increase over previous years.

I know we were talking earlier that you've seen a significant increase in requests for help from September of last year to September of this year.

How much of an increase did you see?

21% in households served.

So we obviously keep metrics.

And we're very fortunate that we've invested in some software that allows us to count who is coming to the door and track their progress because we really want to help families find pathways out of poverty.

We don't want them coming back year after year after year.

That's not our definition of success.

But the first metrics I saw for September were yesterday, and we learned that it was a 21% increase.

And, again, we're talking households.

So some of our households are two fam-- two people.

Some of our households are 10 family members.

And so it has been an exponential increase.

If we average out the entire year of '22 towards '23, it is an increase of 12% in households.

And that includes-- So that's significant.

Oh, it's huge, especially when we're running a nonprofit.

Our margins are very tight.

We run a very lean ship.

Again, only 40 full-time-- and actually, not even 40 full-time-- 40 employees.

We budgeted for a small modest increase because we knew it looked like things were going to come up.

We did not budget for a significant and exponential increase.

So fortunately, my team is doing more with less.

We are stretching every dollar to meet every need.

But in five months, it could be a very different story.

We really going to need to depend on our partners to help us maintain this level if it continues to increase.

And if somebody is in a position to be able to donate to Crosslines, not just time, but also money, how can they do that?

Again, our website's the easiest way to go.

It's ccozarks.org/donate.

There's a big red button at the top.

You can restrict your donations to what you're passionate about-- Crosslines Food Pantry or holiday support.

If you're really passionate about homeless services, there's a way to restrict your donations there.

We are a donor-funded organization primarily.

Most people think Council of Churches-- it must be the churches that fund.

I will tell you less than 10% of our funding comes from churches writing us into their budget.

Most of it comes from private donors, just like someone who sees the need and wants to meet the need.

And so we have some grants also.

We have some businesses that choose to partner with us.

They do diaper drives or toy drives for us.

All of that contributes toward our bottom line.

But it's really people doing what they can to help their neighbors, and that's how we thrive.

Let's go back to sign-up for the holiday assistance.

Are there certain things that people need to bring with them when they come to sign up?

Absolutely.

You asked me how people qualify.

We are really geared toward Greene County.

We're the area's largest food pantry for Greene County.

They can call and check specific requirements.

We do try to verify their address.

We try to verify their identity, that sort of thing.

But if they start with a phone call to our office, we can very easily talk them through all the paperwork that they need.

We have lots of resources that aren't restricted by those categories, and we'll talk them through that.

We try to help everyone that we can.

But because some of our programs are federally mandated, they're a little more stringent with the requirements that you have to provide.

So I would tell folks to bring a piece of mail with them and their identity.

Their soc card is always a good idea as well.

And that allows us to look and consider the most number of programs for which they could be eligible.

Do you ever have to turn anybody away just because you simply don't have enough money, enough toys to hand out?

So far, for holiday assistance, no, thankfully.

There is something we can do for everyone.

Now, again, there are families-- I should have mentioned the holiday toy store is for families with children.

I should have mentioned that.

And some of the other assistance programs are restricted based on category.

But I will tell you, if we don't do it at the Council of Churches, we know who does.

So our goal is to never turn anyone away without some manner of hope, some next step that they can-- we are very fortunate in Southwest Missouri.

There are a lot of programs and a lot of agencies.

And we have been doing this for a long time.

There are a lot of folks who love to do philanthropy.

This is our day job.

This is our day job.

So we can get folks connected to the services that we have in the community probably more easily than anyone else.

And a good point to make, I think, is that you don't have to be a family with kids to receive assistance.

You can be a senior couple.

Absolutely, yes.

Again, the different programs have different requirements.

But yes, we have programs to affect every age and every demographic.

Let's talk now about another program and how it differs from the holiday assistance we've been talking about, and that's the Ambassadors for Children holiday assistance.

What is that, and how can somebody find out more about it?

This is one of the most fun programs that we have.

So there are about 800 to 1,000 children in care in the three-county area.

These are children who have been removed from their origin homes, and they are now in a foster family circumstance.

Because we have too few foster families in Southwest Missouri, resources are often stretched tight.

So if you come to the Council of Churches, you can sign up to sponsor a foster child.

And we will provide you with that child's wish list.

And we try to steer spending around $100 per child.

We don't want it to be super disproportionate.

So that's kind of the goal.

There are a few discrepancies on that, but we really try to fulfill that child's wish list.

And so we will do that for approximately 800 kids this year.

We need 800 donors who are ready to say, I will go shopping for all those things.

And I will tell you, it is so fun.

And the items on those wish lists-- you're going to be shocked.

Because $100 doesn't go as far as it used to.

But I will tell you, the child that I had last year asked for a pillow and black Nike socks.

Wow.

Their idea of what makes a wonderful Christmas morning is very different than a lot of kids.

It doesn't take a lot of an investment to really impact a child's life dramatically.

And we would love to have as many partners as possible to make that possible.

And, again, if somebody wants to sign up to be a donor for these kids, it's ccozarks.org.

Absolutely.

All right.

Let's talk next about another program that you offer this time of year, and that's the Christmas Sponsor a Family.

How does that work?

It's almost the same process.

So we will-- we have a vetting system, and we work in partnership with several agencies in town to identify families who could use a little extra help.

And so a company might sponsor a family.

And so we take wish lists for the whole family, including moms and dads.

We get gift cards and kitchen items and all kinds of things.

And then that one's really fun because depending on your comfort level-- I mean, obviously, we want to keep it very-- we want to instill compassion and dignity.

So depending on privacy and how the family feels, you can wrap all the presents up and deliver them like Santa Claus in time for Christmas to put under the tree.

And I will tell you, that is really rewarding, too, to be able to come in and say, here's your Christmas, and to see a very bare Christmas tree suddenly overflowing with abundance.

It's kind of spectacular.

I bet it is.

And I can imagine this would be a great thing for either a family, an individual, or just some group, if you're part of any kind of organization or any kind of group in town.

Absolutely.

We have Sunday School classes and Rotary groups and businesses who say, instead of giving everyone an ornament this year, we're going to pool our resources, and we're going to bless a family.

It's a great opportunity.

Again, our website's how you sign up for that.

OK-- ccozarks.org.

And you also offer the Share your Christmas sponsorship, which allows families to share their stories in the "News-Leader."

How can somebody get their story in the paper?

That is a good question.

I will have to research that.

I know that we have a person who comes on just one time a year who works full-time in our office for free-- God bless her-- Sheryl Wachter.

And she works based on the holiday applications that we receive.

She works to identify, and then really do a little investigative reporting with those families, and so that those stories are ready to go to the Springfield "News-Leader."

And thankfully, that's been a great partnership where they share those stories and just an outpouring of support.

People want to help if they know how to help.

And our job at Council of Churches is to show people how to help.

So I think the easiest way to start is certainly through the holiday application process at our-- but, again, I think if you called, we could get you some very detailed instructions on how you could be one of those stories.

And with that sponsorship, or with that program, the Christmas sponsorship, it's not just families with kids, but you also see seniors who are in an assisted living facility that have needs.

Absolutely.

In fact, we have one grantor in town who every year sends us some funds to go make sure that residents of long-term care facilities are not forgotten at Christmas.

Again, there are so many lonely people who do not have safety networks and do not have people to buy them presents.

And, again, it's really easy to make their day with some slippers, or a throw rug, or a fun lamp.

And we have a long-term care team that goes out and purchases some of those items and makes sure that they are delivered in time for Christmas so that they too can have a happy Christmas.

Everybody deserves to have a happy holiday season.

Again, if somebody wants to find out more about volunteering, I know you must need lots of volunteers for the holiday assistance distribution.

How can they find out?

Is that-- again, ccozarks.org.

We want to keep pushing that website.

And what are their responsibilities?

What are some options that they have for working during the holidays?

We have so many options.

So here are a couple unsung positions that we really need help for.

The week before is set-up week.

And it is not as heartwarming as seeing the kids and the moms and dads leaving with groceries and presents.

But it is so vitally important that people help unfold tables, and help set up tape and set up curtain and drape.

So we will need a whole week of volunteers in two- or three-hour shifts helping make sure that that's available-- just sorting the toys, just inventorying the toys.

All of that is a huge effort.

And then clean up, also.

So it's really awesome when the last guest goes home with a smile on their face, but that's when our team really gets busy.

And unfortunately, that's-- you're probably exhausted because you've been there since 6:00 in the morning, and that's when we need a lot of help.

But during the day, we'll need personal shoppers.

We'll need people to check information.

We'll need baggers.

We'll need people who-- we actually walk along with folks and help them fill their bag with all the items that come along with their holiday basket.

So there's a million different ways to help.

And, again, every age and every ability is welcome.

And, again, sign-up for Christmas assistance begins on November 27.

Exactly.

Find out more at ccozarks.org.

Let's talk about Council of Churches as a whole again.

I want to know how it got started.

Was it a bunch of churches that came together to form that?

A little bit.

So our founder was Reverend Dr. Dorsey Levell, and he was a very charismatic gentleman.

We unfortunately lost him during COVID.

But he had this crazy idea.

What if people actually did what the Bible says?

Let's feed, clothe, and shelter people.

And so the first thing he did was-- and he was a pastor.

He was a retired chaplain from the Army.

And he said, you know, I'm going to go to some of the pastors in town and just see if they think this is a good idea.

Let's pool our resources.

So instead of every church in Springfield having their own food bank or trying to do their own homeless shelter, what if we worked together to do that?

And so he went to 13 churches, and 13 churches said yes.

And so our first office was actually in the attic at University Heights Baptist Church.

We moved around quite a bit.

There are still-- we have tremendous partnerships with those first 13 churches still to this day.

So, again, five decades-- this was all back in 1969.

But it just had this idea that we could do more together than we could ever do apart.

And so they used to take up collections in the churches of food.

And then that church would serve on a special day in the pantry.

And sometimes when the food ran out, the line was still there.

And so since that, we had to get more organized.

And we started working to make sure that the shelves stayed stocked no matter how much the church collected.

But we still have churches who come and volunteer in that pantry like they have for 50 years, which is amazing and beautiful to see.

But it's really a 501(c)(3) now.

It's a great nonprofit.

We work through churches, certainly.

But as I mentioned before, we work through donors and grants.

And we're like every other social service agency.

We're faith-based.

We're very proud of our faith tradition.

But at the same time, what we do is feed, clothe, and shelter and in a variety of ways, as you've heard.

And as with any nonprofit, you rely on donations and volunteers.

And, again, it sounds like there's so many wonderful opportunities with Council of Churches of the Ozarks-- Crosslines and the other programs-- to make a difference, to really have an impact.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

We're arm in arm with the community.

That's the only way it's possible to serve our most vulnerable neighbors.

Yeah.

And, again, if anybody wants to find out more about volunteering, go to your website-- ccozarks.org.

Thank you, Jaimie, so much for coming to talk to us today.

Thank you so much for having us here.

We hope to see you at the holidays.

We want to leave you with where you can find out more information.

I'm Michele Skalicky.

Thank you for watching.

And until next time, goodbye.

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