County office shows some heart

The pillar outside the office of Pettis County Public Administrator Charli Ackerman is beginning to fill up with paper hearts as the ninth annual Helping Hearts campaign kicks off this week.

The monthlong fundraiser brings in $2,000 or more each year, with funds used by Ackerman to help cover incidental costs for about 150 people served by the office, including many elderly, disabled and indigent people who need assistance but have no one to care for them and are assigned to her office by the court system.

“Probably the main uses this pot of money goes for are expenses for medical — things that aren’t covered by Medicaid. Most of these folks are indigent and Medicaid has cut a lot of services,” Ackerman said, noting that dental extractions are one of the main services funded through donations.

She said finding a dentist willing to take Medicaid patients poses “a big, big challenge” and “any time we have a dental emergency we can’t wait six months to get into a Medicaid dentist, so we will pay for their visit from this pool of money.”

Funds also go to cover prescription costs not covered by Medicare Part D, as well as for out-of-town doctors’ office visits and moving costs when clients must change group homes.

As in years past, Ackerman launched the campaign this week with her own donation in honor of lost loved ones. The campaign draws an average of about 50 donors, and includes at least one anonymous benefactor who gives a sizable donation each year.

“I am always grateful for the donations. It is a small pool of money, but we make the best use of it we can, and I’m not sure how we would cover some of these expenses otherwise,” Ackerman said.

Donations are tax-deductible and Ackerman provides a receipt for each donation.

Donations will be accepted by mail or in person at the Public Administrator’s Office on the first floor of the Pettis County Courthouse, 415 S. Ohio Ave., Suite 104. Donors may sign a paper heart dedicating their donation to a loved one, and the hearts will be displayed in the courthouse lobby.

The campaign runs through February, but Ackerman said she will accept donations throughout the year.

For more information, call the Public Administrator’s Office at 826-5000, ext. 434.