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Sept. 7, 2011 CONTACT: Luci Flaim, Bonnie Prigge, 573-265-2993 Meramec Regional Community Foundation partners with Hope Alliance of Missouri ST. JAMES – The Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) has established a partnership with Hope Alliance of Missouri that will strengthen both organizations’ roles in providing resources to meet the needs of the Meramec Region. The partnership was discussed at MRCF’s August board meeting at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC). The agreement will establish a Capacity Building Fund with MRCF through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO). Hope Alliance of Missouri is a non-profit organization that assists the working poor and financially disadvantaged in local communities. Faith Ann Barnes, executive director, founded Hope Alliance of Missouri in 2008. “We are not an agency where people come to get help from us; we find programs to bring to people to help out,” Barnes said. One aspect of the agency, the Friday Backpack Program, provides backpacks of food to children in Phelps County to take home on the weekends as an extra source of nourishment. Students at Mark Twain Elementary, Truman Elementary and Wyman Elementary participate in the backpack program, Barnes explained. “I have an amazing team of volunteers. I personally shop for the food twice a week. I use money from donations I have received from the community and grants I have received,” Barnes said. “Every child who needs a bag gets one.” The volunteers include retired teachers, Rotary members, church members, youth groups and other community members. Volunteers begin the packing process on Thursdays and the backpacks are distributed on Fridays to students to take home for the weekends. “We are always looking for volunteers–packing bags or office work. This is also a great time to donate because of the economy,” Barnes said. “With even more government cuts, we are going to see an increase in need, especially food, in our own community. This is a great way to help people, especially children, in our own backyard.” Barnes noted 385 children were served on a weekly basis for the 2010-11 school year. Hope Alliance of Missouri also assists the community with programs such as the Job Skills Workshop, in which women are taught the basics of applying for a job, creating a resume and interview skills. Another program provides hygiene kits to local emancipated teenagers who are trying to finish high school. Hope Alliance of Missouri is also planning an after-school transportation program to provide free after-school transportation to students going to and from school-related activities. One of the challenges facing Hope Alliance of Missouri is having sufficient time to write grants, and MRCF will be beneficial with assistance in that area, Barnes explained. “Although the community has been amazing with their donations, it takes close to $80,000 per school year for the backpack program alone. Knowing that MRCF will be helping with grant writing and publicity is a huge weight lifted off of me. I’m proud to partner with MRCF, an organization that truly wants to help the local community,” Barnes said. Looking toward the future, Barnes said Hope Alliance of Missouri would like to strengthen its current programs, while finding more ways to assist the working poor and financially disadvantaged in the community. MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Springfield. MRCF was established in May 2010 and serves Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties outside of existing CFO affiliate areas. For more information on MRCF, contact Luci Flaim, community development specialist with MRPC, at (573) 265-2993 or by email at lflaim@meramecregion.org. For more information on Hope Alliance of Missouri visit http://www.hopeallianceofmissouri.org/ or contact Barnes at 573-368-8001 or by email at hopeallianceofmissouri@yahoo.com.
Faith Barnes, Hope Alliance of Missouri executive director, left, and Laura Antolak, MRCF chairman, sign documents to establish the agencies’ partnership.
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