Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES— The Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) has awarded grants totaling $10,000 to five nonprofit agencies for recovery needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Owensville Senior Center was one of the five nonprofits and received $1,000 from the Meramec Regional Coover COVID grant program. 

The Owensville Senior Center will use the funds to help cover supply costs in providing curbside congregate meals to the seniors living in Owensville and the surrounding counties of Maries, Osage and Gasconade. On average the center feeds between 45-50 clients a day, Monday through Friday. The seniors using the service receive meals that are nutritious and hot. During COVID, they have adapted to a curbside pick-up system to keep their clients safe. Any senior over the age of 60 is eligible to participate in the program. 

MRCF received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO), which was made possible by the Louis L. and Julia Dorothy Coover Charitable Foundation, managed by Commerce Trust Company in partnership with the CFO. MRCF was one of 30 CFO affiliate foundations to receive Coover grant funding this year and chose to use its award to hold a community recovery grant round for eligible nonprofits. MRCF received 13 requests and was able to fund five.

The other four nonprofits receiving community recovery grants were:

• Hope Alliance of Missouri: $2,500 to support its Abundant Blessings program;
• Crocker Presbyterian Church: $2,500 for its Community Care Program;
• The Rolla Mission: $1,500 to help homeless individuals isolate while contagious with COVID-19; and
• Tri-County Center for Independent Living: $2,500 to support its Consumer Assistance program.

MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and is an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) in Springfield. The regional affiliate was formed in 2010. Its 12-member board includes representation from each of the eight Meramec counties and from MRPC. Vicki Lange of Osage County serves as president of MRCF.

Currently, MRCF has 54 funds totaling over $3.76 million.

Persons needing more information on MRCF and its philanthropy efforts can contact Bonnie Prigge or Maria Bancroft at MRPC via the phone at 573-265-2993 or via email at bprigge@meramecregion.org or mbancroft@meramecregion.org, respectively.

CFO is a public foundation serving the Missouri Ozarks. The foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the region through resource development, community grant-making, collaborations and public leadership. Formed in 1973, CFO has since grown to include 53 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,261 charitable funds totaling approximately $310 million in assets, as of June 30, 2020. 

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a regional grant program, provides staff support to MRCF. 

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 34 offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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Cutline for Featured Image at Top: Maria Bancroft with MRPC (right) and MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge (left) present Linda Geisler President of the Owensville Senior Center Board and Larry Geisler with the $1,000 check.