Feeding Families is Just the Beginning

Current Needs:

This month, all below are CRITICAL

• Dinner Helpers• Cereal • Canned Pasta

• Mid-Range Shampoo• Size 6 Diapers• 4T and 5T Pull-Ups• Dish Soap• Laundry Detergent• Women’s Incontinence Briefs, Size L/XL

October 2020

It’s In The CardsThe rows and rows of thousands of brightly wrapped gifts at our annual Holiday Adoption event for our clients is a sight many at Circle of Concern wait all year to see. The spectacle is even more special with the knowledge that each of those packages is a wish coming true for each person served by Circle – hopeful child, lonely senior, struggling mom.

Enter COVID-19. The group interaction, manpower and team activity demanded by this cherished program all run contrary to safety guidelines to lessen the impact of the pandemic. Here at Circle, we had to find a way to facilitate the joy of the season while ensuring safety for our clients, sponsors, volunteers and staff.

To accomplish both, we are providing a $50 gift card (the traditional expenditure we’ve recommended for Holiday Adoption gift) to every member of our client families. Instead of sending sponsors the wishlists for a client family to shop for them, we ask that you consider donating to Circle in a multiple of $50 to sponsor the gift cards that will allow families to shop this holiday season. To provide a card to 2,000 individuals, we are working to raise $100,000 by November 1.

While we are wistful about setting aside the warm holiday feelings that come with granting the wishes of a family in need, we look forward to still providing the means to each family to tuck treasures under the tree or meet a need that would otherwise go unmet.

If you would like to sponsor Circle clients through the Holiday Adoption program, please visit circleofconcern.org and click on the Holiday Adoption link on the homepage. Or mail a check with Holiday Adoption written on the memo line. By doing so, you, yourself, will be a gift to our families.

Each month this summer, an average of 18,927 pounds of food was donated at our warehouse.

Weekly grocery store pick-ups of donated produce have temporarily ceased, but your contributions have helped us buy seasonal fruit – berries, cantaloupe, pineapple and more.

Vegetables from home gardeners and community/churchyard gardens have topped the grocery bags for our clients all summer, providing beautiful beets, carrots, herbs,

squash and the cutest little cucamelons!

*Thanks to our reader who told us that she wants to hear about the food we share!

A Note fromEntrepreneur, author and philanthropist Richard Branson once said that, “Every success story is a tale of constant adaptation, revision and change.” Such was the scenario as we worked to deliver every client program this year, safely and efficiently.

When the Covid-19 pandemic shut down our economy, and as businesses furloughed and folded, we knew that families would need our services now more than ever. Nevertheless, how could we deliver these services within the confines of Covid safety measures – and with fewer volunteers? Our client choice pantry model requires a host of helpers – from guest service

volunteers and caseworkers, to stockers, shoppers and warehouse workers.

Our conference room became a “war room,” of sorts, where over the course of weeks we hashed out the procedures for our pantry services; and returned several times to reimagine each seasonal program – Summer Opportunities, Kid Bags, Back to School, Thanksgiving Baskets and Holiday Adoption. Interspersed throughout were countless remote Zoom and WebEx gatherings, as we shared progress and sought support from our Board of Directors; and learned of new recommendations, resources and strategies through our community partners.

I am so proud of the team—our staff members and key volunteers—who, through commitment, collaboration and creative problem solving employed new strategies to ensure that no program went by the wayside. In fact, we soon will offer an additional service—access to counseling and mental health care—through a St. Louis Community Foundation Chiron Fund grant.

As we move into what is typically our busiest quarter, we look forward to making the holidays a bit brighter for our client families – as well as for those who find joy in giving. None of this would be possible without the kindness and generosity of our donors. On behalf of our team and those who turn to Circle for help, we thank you, thank you, and thank you again!

CyndiCyndi

When Two or MoreSeveral churches have held drive-through food collection events for Circle this summer, including the Manchester United Methodist Church choir, St. John United

Church of Christ in Manchester and Fellowship Church of Wildwood. Besides carloads of welcomed food, our friends at these churches share that, in the absence of in-person church services, seeing church friends at these drive-up food drives has bolstered a sense of community during these isolating times. We are grateful for all the good these events provide!

About the food in our pantry*

Tax NewsThis year, beyond the standard tax deduction, the CARES Act allows you to claim an additional $300 tax deduction. Here at Circle, $300 could buy two dozen eggs on a busy day for every curbside client needing food or a jar of jelly for 250 families.

Thank you for thinking of Circle as you plan your year-end charitable giving.

OUR MISSION: Circle of Concern feeds the hungry and provides

assistance to low-income families living in west St. Louis County.OUR VISION: Improving every

life in our community by reducing hunger and poverty.

In Memory, In HonorMany of our friends contribute to Circle of Concern with a notation that the gift is given in memory, or in honor, of a loved one or in recognition of a significant event or group. We then both thank the donor AND notify relevant people of the gift, if an address is provided and without the actual gift amount shared.

What you might not know is what these gifts mean to us. Besides valuing the contribution as a way to fund our critical programs for families, we are so touched that you trust us enough to connect us to the people and events that are important to you. We are honored and commit to being good stewards of the trust you have in us and the funds you donate. Thank you.

IN HONOR Jill Albano’s BirthdayAlex & Dane Alpha Delta Kappa Beta Xi Back-To-School & Food Pantry Carol BJohn BenderLana BiondoKay Boyd The Car Wash for COVID ReliefAnn Marie CarrollAva CasillasGreg Christoffel’s Birthday Circle of Concern Staff Circle of Concern VolunteersDominic Copeland - Honorable Grades at Valley Park HSShelby & Cruz Croner, Grandchildren Mary Ann Cutelli’s BirthdayJ Davis’s BirthdayRev Carol DeVaughan’s service to Faith Des Peres PresbyterianThe Dinner Group Efforts Combatting COVID-19 Erin, Laura & RachelM/M Ferguson’s MarriageFirst Responders & Healthcare WorkersAlice & William FlemingKay Folsom The Rev Marvin Foltz’s Retirement Dr Jason GoldfederErin GreerAnn HarbertJoyce Harrell’s BirthdayDiana Haskell of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Healthcare WorkersRob & Denise Hibbard’s Wedding Luanne Holmes The Hope Wins! Food drive by The Crossing ChurchJesus

May 1 through August 31, 2020

Barb & Boyd JonesBarbara Jones BirthdayJoanie Kane’s BirthdayKaye’s Graduation Pastor Kevin’s BirthdayKiwanis, Div. 9-GravoisAnna Lackschewitz & Alvin McCall Lafayette Church of ChristCharles & Mary Lages AnniversaryA Lages’ Birth M/M Larry LeGrandGabe Lepak Beth Letscher Susan Lounsbury Sharon Maddox & Mark Strothmann’s 3rd Wedding AnniversaryVennessa MastroianniSusan McCarthy’s BirthdayBill & Jackie McNamaraBob & Marilyn MerloRich & Donna Messey’s Birthdays Rhea Metcalf Scotty Meyer Michelle’s Birthday Trust Moore New Outlook Pioneers Chapter 136 Ohio State Parkway UCC EducatorsPioneers PoonamRogue Dining SocietyRogue UndergroundDale Rollings’ 80th Birthday!David Rouff Hazel Rozema Sarah’s Cake Shop Al & Teresa SchlobohmRosemary SchmidtJoAnn Schremp Bill Shelton Julie Simonson Joseph Sooter Jr St John United Church of Christ, Manchester St Martin Episcopal ChurchThe generosity of Advanced Technology Group

Patricia Thomas Valley Park Special Education TeachersGloria Van Dover Jane Walsma’s BirthdayWest County DemocratsChris Wiley’s BirthdayJ Williams’ BirthdayJudith Yokum Robert & Gwen Zagore IN MEMORY

Robert Abbott William Lester BanningGeorge Barr Joann Frances BartonNolan Bayliss Maureen Bean Gary Bebb Thomas Bender Walter Beranek Betty Warren Bilchik Lucille Blesi Vivian Bolen Ron Brown George Burr Robert Burr Jerry Caesar Pat Caldwell Richard A (Rick) CamdenPhyllis & Leroy CarsonVirginia Burr CarterJudy Cassilly Donald Chellis Jacob Clark Ron Coleman Marjorie Collins Connie Conrad COVID-19 Lost LivesTim Croker Nunzio Curcuru Katherine Dains Lillian R Davis Drusilla DeLisle Barbara Dierberg John Edwards Leora Engel Alice Eveland Gene Eversgerd Benjamin & Stephen FerrisJames Kevin Foley Kay Folsom Colin Forbes Frances Gallagher Patricia Gasset

Kay & Jack Geary Mildred (Mil) GlaserKim Grosmann Joy Arlene “Dee” GrothKenneth Guier Dorothy Gulley Jeanne HaddenhorstKathryn (Katie) HarperFred Harre Sr Ernie Harris Kim Hayes Warren Hecht Donna Helfert Paul & Carol HortonJack & Dorothy Huddleston Jeffrey Jacoby Muriel & Frank JedlinkCarol Jeglijewski Ervin JohnstonBill Jones Chris Joyce Chanchal Kapoor Ruth Park Karimi Donald Killian Rick & Richard KingRichard King II Gil & Nita Koewing Carol Kornmann Haran Kumar Richard Lamzik Willie A Larry Jr Willie A Larry Sr Gus Lindauer Mary & Jessie LoperLouise & Laura Jean Luedde Nancy Magnusen Nancy Mathias Marie McBride Aleea Joy McDonaldMabel McGowen Dominic Mikal Bob Mitori

Gary Stephen MoyersLouis Mueller Don Muse Chris Nelson Oliver & Helen NewberryNathaniel Olk Ashlyn Newell PattisonOur Peggys Ellis Phillips Catherine Quick, Wonderful Mother of Larry Papa Ragulina Mr Ramakrishnan Craig, Doug & Andy RawlsSusan (Delabar) RempertMarie Joyce RhodesPaul Rickles Josephine Jackes RossWalter RothermelGerry Schenberg Marianne Schenck Pollylou Schlag Hilda Schreiber Marvin Stewart Ann Studards Buck & Dot Taylor Gavin Turk Alois J Unger John Vandable Betty Verser Donald Wade Richard A Wagner Sr James (Jim) WahlersPatricia Warner Brian Wear Ruth M WeinbergerMary Willman Mary Helen WinsbyJeanette Woda Agnes Wolfe Ray Woodley Amy Marie Woods Gwen Zamberlan

October 31 Target Date to Sponsor for Holiday Adoption

November 25 - Circle Closed for ThanksgivingNovember 27

November 30 VIRTUAL Board of Directors Meeting 5:30 p.m.

We share many donations with our clients:• Food, Canned and Packaged• Fresh Garden Produce• Dry Pet Food, Litter• New Blankets, Hats, Gloves

Donations are accepted:Monday........................9 a.m. - 3 p.m.Tuesday .......................9 a.m. - 3 p.m.Thursday .....................9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

112 St. Louis Ave.Valley Park, MO 63088Address Service Requested

Michael BauerPRESIDENT

Amy VollmerVICE PRESIDENT

Dolores RodenbergTREASURER

Allison LoveSECRETARY

Lana BiondoCharlotte Bukowski

Thomas ChibnallSteven ErnstFrank HaaseBJ Hillerman

Virginia PearsonCarol Vandable

Cindy Wolk

Board ofDirectors:

STAFF DIRECTORY .................................................................................................... 636.861.2623Cyndi Miller, Executive Director .....................................................cyndi@circleofconcern.org .................. ext. 117Juliet Holden, Senior Director .........................................................juliet@circleofconcern.org ................... ext. 106Michelle Lepak, Pantry Director .....................................................michelle@circleofconcern.org ............ ext. 107Stephanie Moreland, Volunteer/Special Events Director ......stephanie@circleofconcern.org ......... ext. 113Niki Vandable, Client Services Director ........................................niki@circleofconcern.org ...................... ext. 108

“LIKE US” on Facebook and visit us online at www.circleofconcern.org.

Important Dates:

Holiday

Adoption 2.0

NONPROFITAUTO

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

ST LOUIS, MOPERMIT NO. 3252

RememberYour monetary gift or food donation can qualify for MO Food Pantry Tax Credits.

Contact juliet@circleofconcern.org to find out more.