With the holiday gifting season officially underway, Giving Tuesday provides a chance to press pause on shopping and offer some help to local nonprofit organizations.
WILS operates in Warrensburg, Sedalia, and Warsaw, serving the counties of Benton, Henry, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline. This Giving Tuesday, WILS is raising money for it ramps program.
Many people in WILS’ six-county service area often find themselves trapped in a home that has become inaccessible as their mobility needs change. The average ramp construction costs $1,851 and takes more than 10 man hours to build. As a 501(c)(3), WILS has limited resources, and donations allow more people to safely access their own yard, community, and beyond.
For more information, visit W-ILS.org and click the green “donate now’ button on the top right to donate.
The West Central Missouri Veterans Assistance League is the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides quality-of-life programs to those who live at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
It is hosting its Tree of Stars program. Every $50 raised will allow VAL to purchase a Christmas present for one of the veterans who live there. Individuals, businesses and organizations may sponsor a dog tag that includes a message of inspiration. All of the dog tags will be placed on the Tree of Stars in the front lobby. Sponsorships range from $25 to $200. The deadline is Dec. 24.
Cash or checks made payable to the Veterans Assistance League will be accepted. For more information, email Latisha.Koetting@mvc.dps.mo.gov.
Toys for Tots Region 7 helps children in need in Johnson, Pettis, Henry, Lafayette, and Benton counties. The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is to help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children.
Appreciated forms of support are monetary donations, volunteering, gas gift cards and meal vouchers for the volunteers, services, waivers and discounts, warehouse and office supplies, advertisements, and other forms of support and services as needed.
Visit www.warrensburg-mo.toysfortots.org to donate online, volunteer, request a toy, or become a toy drop-off location. To discuss other forms of donations, call local coordinator Jerome Coleman at 773-683-4744.
Birthday Blessings, a nonprofit that provides resources to foster kids in Pettis and Cooper counties, has a goal to raise $5,000 for Giving Tuesday.
The charity partners with Children’s Divisions and other agencies to support kids in care. Their programs target the physical and emotional needs of the children. Meeting a child’s basic needs allows them to focus on important tasks like getting an education or improving social skills.
Executive Director Shannon VonAllmen said the nonprofit is seeing higher operating costs due to inflation and increased service requests.
Locally, the organization has a volunteer group that meets monthly at LifePointe Church in Sedalia. Volunteers prep birthday parties and other resources for delivery to kids in care.
Donations can be made at www.birthday-blessings.org or by mailing checks to Birthday Blessings, 808 Westwood Drive, Sedalia, MO 65301. For more information, call 660-619-1250.
Supporters of Boys & Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri can donate to its Whatever It Takes Fund, which allocates monies to literally whatever it takes to ensure our members are on the path to a successful future.
During the year, BGC provides afterschool and summer programs to more than 1,600 children at 12 Club Sites in seven communities. In 2024, two additional Club Sites will open to serve more children more often. Donations may be made by sending a check to Boys & Girls Club, 3100 Aaron Ave. in Sedalia, or online at bgckids.com.
The Pettis County Community Partnership is in need of basic necessities such as body wash, shampoo, conditioner, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, wash rags, bath towels, socks, and underwear for the community closet to help the community members struggling with housing instability.
PCCP is also in need of blankets, sleeping bags, coats, granola bars and other similar items for the unhoused community members.
For more information, visit www.pettiscountycommunitypartnership.com or call 660-827-0560.
Citizens Against Spouse Abuse is inviting supporters to provide items that CASA is always in need of for the shelter. Those items include toilet paper, paper towels, bath towels and washcloths, paper plates and cutlery, pillows, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion, new hair brushes/combs, elastic hair ties, Q-Tips cleaning supplies, 13-gallon trash bags, 1- or 2-gallon storage bags, tampons, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors, baby lotion, baby wash/shampoo, size 4/5 diapers, dish soap and aluminum foil.
Any donations of $100 or more are eligible for a 70% tax credit on your Missouri taxes and can be made at www.casa-sedalia.org/donate.
For more information, visit www.casa-sedalia.org or the CASA Facebook page, call the shelter at 660-827-5559 and ask for Sara or email sara@casa-sedalia.org.
It is a little-known fact that the nonprofit’s combined facilities' in Sedalia, Missouri, and Waverly, Iowa, daily consumption of dog food amounts to a remarkable 136 cups.
This Giving Tuesday, Retrieving Freedom presents to the community a call to action: the opportunity to contribute to a dog food drive with donations of Purina Pro Plan dog food for service dogs in training. Reducing the expenses associated with the service dogs' nutrition allows Retrieving Freedom to strategically redirect financial resources to continue its mission to provide service dogs to veterans with disabilities and children with autism nationwide at no cost.
The Giving Tuesday Dog Food Drive will be at the following locations:
Pruitt Insurance, 622 S. Ohio Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Family Center Farm & Home, 1400 S. Limit Ave., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Liberty Center, 111 W. Fifth St., 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
Central Bank: 301 W. Broadway Blvd., 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 6 p.m. Friday.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/mtm4j8ha.
The Bothwell Foundation helps provide the latest medical equipment and facilities for the best patient diagnosis and treatment, disease prevention and health education for community health-care needs, recruiting and retaining the best medical staff for this area, and ensuring Bothwell Regional Health Center is locally managed and community-owned health care. Community support is the only other source of revenue for the health center. Through generous gifts from the community, the Foundation is able to fund health projects that meet a variety of needs.
This year, the Bothwell Foundation is beginning a new project to raise funds to remodel patient care rooms on the 24-bed unit of 2SW. Patient rooms have not been remodeled on 2SW since 1985. These much-needed revisions will increase patient safety and satisfaction, improve mood, encourage the presence of a patient’s support network, and aid in faster recovery.
To donate, visit brhc.org/foundation-giving/donate or contact the Bothwell Foundation office at 660-829-7786 or LThiel@brhc.org.
Child Safe, a Child Advocacy Center, has a mission to respond to and prevent child abuse, help families heal and restore childhood hope.
Child Safe is committed to serving children who are alleged victims of sexual abuse, severe physical abuse, exploitation and other traumatic events that involve a crime. The nonprofit provides advocacy for the child and their non-offending family members free of charge to the following counties: Pettis, Morgan, Henry, Saline, Chariton, Lafayette, Linn, Carroll, Johnson, Moniteau and Benton.
Child Safe of Central Missouri is a 501(c)3 and offers Champion for Children Tax Credits for donations over $100 per year. Visit childsafehouse.org and click the “Be a Hero” button to sign up for monthly or one-time giving.
The Open Door organization offers many types of assistance for Pettis County residents. The Service Center helps with clothing vouchers, prescription costs, heat assistance, transportation to safe shelters, and other basic human needs. An average of 2,770 individuals eat each month at the kitchen and the food pantry serves about 120 families daily.
During the holiday season, Open Door needs monetary donations, plus items like shelf-stable foods, meat and produce, coats and gloves. Donations are also needed at the Thrift Shop, which sells items to raise money for Open Door’s services.
Open Door Service Center has set a goal of raising $5,000 in 24 hours for Giving Tuesday. People can donate at www.opendoorservicecenter.org/donate-today. When making a Giving Tuesday donation, donors are invited to join the GEM Treasure Club by setting up recurring donations, which help Open Door with stability by giving a reliable, predictable source of ongoing revenue to help individuals & families stay healthy through food security.
The Democrat is also hosting a fall food drive to benefit Open Door. Donations can be dropped off at 111 W. Fourth St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; the deadline is Nov. 29.
For more information, visit opendoorservicecenter.org or call 660-827-1613.
The Sedalia Animal Shelter is inviting supporters to provide items the shelter is always in need of, including bleach, paper towels, magic erasers, Purina Kitten Chow, Dawn dish soap, Rugged tough dog toys, and cleaning supplies. For more information, visit the shelter at 2420 S. New York Ave. from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, call 660-826-5816 or email rbattson@sedalia.com.
Show-Me serves Pettis and Johnson counties with homes in La Monte and Knob Noster. Significant, positive memories build the resilience these kids need to overcome their unfortunate pasts and prepare for a healthy future.
Donors can help create memories that last a lifetime by giving gift cards or passes to special events, such as movies, bowling, sporting games, and other fun activities. Or stuff the kids' stockings with gift cards of $5 or $10 to allow each child to pick out a favorite treat.
Also, a variety of items to gift the families is available on Show-Me's Amazon Wish List at http://l.ead.me/ShowMeList, or find the latest needs at ShowMeHelpingKids.com. For more information, call 660-347-5982.
The Sedalia Salvation Army is seeking volunteers to ring bells this Christmas season. Visit www.registertoring.com or call 660-826-1525. The Salvation Army is also in need of coats, hats and gloves to distribute for free at the Service Center. Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 1200 E. Broadway Blvd.
Cancer Perks helps provide simple, practical needs to people with cancer at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Fitzgibbon Hospital and Western Missouri Medical Center. Help includes gas mileage reimbursements for people traveling for radiation treatments, resources for people who need to get their lawns mowed, small bills paid or meals provided, and care packages for people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
Cancer Perks is hosting its annual Virtual Angel Tree on Facebook as part of its 12 Needs of Christmas campaign. Visit facebook.com/CancerPerks to learn more.
The nonprofit also provides Christmas dinners to all patients receiving chemo on Christmas Eve at all three cancer centers, and donations are needed.
The United Way of Pettis County brings together people and resources to improve the lives of everyone in the community. All proceeds from Giving Tuesday will go toward the 2024 "Give Where You Live" Campaign, which supports education, health, and financial stability programming across the county. To donate, visit www.spcuw.org/donate. Those interested in donating their time or talent can contact Rachelle Simon at rachelle.simon@spcuw.org.
Compiled by Nicole Cooke.
