Voluntary Action Center

NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2
MAY—JUNE, 2015
Voluntary Action Center
the heart of service in Boone County
403A Vandiver Drive | Columbia MO 65203 | 573-874-2273
vac@vacmo.org
HERO AWARD WINNERS 2015
YOUTH: Danny Harre
INDIVIDUAL: Mary Burger
GROUP: Calvary Episcopal Church
HEALTH CARE: Gerald Harrington
EDUCATION/LITERACY: John T. Conway
ARTS: Mellodie Wilson
COMMUNITY PROTECTION:
Nanette Chun-Ming Ward
KEEP COOL THIS SUMMER:
SUMMER FAN PROGRAM
BEGINS MAY 18
For the 25th year, VAC will collect new and gently
used fans, as well as monetary donations to
purchase fans, to help low-income families in
Boone County stay cool during the hot summer
months.
Fan donations and/or financial contributions
to VAC’s Summer Fan Program may be mailed or
brought to the VAC Office.
You can also participate in KOMU 8’s “Fan Club”
and help those less fortunate beat the heat this
summer by donating a new or gently used fan at
Lowe’s, located at 201 Conley Road.
On April 13th, at the 14th Annual Hero
Awards reception, seven local volunteers
were recognized for their exceptional service
to the community.
The awards were presented by the Columbia
Daily Tribune, sponsored by Joe Machens’
Dealerships and Landmark Bank, with
support from VAC. The winners each had
$400 donated to the non-profit organization
that nominated them.
Congratulations to all our winners and
nominees!
AIR CONDITIONER EXCHANGE
BEGINS MAY 19
For the third year, Voluntary Action Center,
Columbia Water and Light, and Boone Electric
Cooperative will work together for a Window Air
Conditioner Exchange Program. This program will
allow low-income utility customers to change out
older, less efficient, or broken window AC units
for new ones that are more energy efficient.
Without this program, many families in Columbia
would have a longer, hotter summer. Now they
will be able to stay a lot cooler and have lower
utility bills. All collected old air conditioners will
be recycled.
Spring Into Action
Boone County National Bank
presented the 14th Annual
Spring Into Action, held on May
12th at The University Club.
The fundraiser featured an
entertaining night of live music
by Wendy & Lauren Kwam,
delicious food and drink,
compelling stories about
various services VAC provides
throughout the community, and
fabulous prizes! Several awards
were also presented during the
evening’s events, celebrating
these honorees’ active efforts
and accomplishments throughout Boone County:
Rev. Raymond I. Massey received the Hazel Riback Award, Kilgore’s Medical Pharmacy received the
Heart of VAC Award, and Broadway Christian Church received the Outstanding Community Service
Award.
Donations from Spring Into Action allow VAC to continually provide support to the members in our
community in the areas of health, housing, employment, and education. Last year, VAC was able to
provide 25,892 units of service in Boone County, and we look forward to continue to help low-income
families and individuals stay out of poverty.
A special thank you to all our sponsors, prize donors, Wendy & Lauren Kwam, and support from
University Catering & Event Services and Missouri Employers Mutual for helping us make this event
a success!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
FOR SPRING INTO ACTION:
Presenting Sponsor:
Boone County National Bank
Bouquet Sponsor:
Shelter Insurance Company
Orchid Sponsors:
Sara M. LeMone
An Anonymous Donor
Ron and Judy Carter
Rose Sponsors:
Landmark Bank
Williams-Keepers, LLC
Boone Hospital Center
Scroggs Architecture
Emery Sapp & Sons
Tulip Sponsors:
Family of Hazel Riback
Dan Knight
Moresource Inc.
Plaza Commercial Realty
Beard-Boehmer and Associates, PC
Providence Bank
Columbia Orthopaedic Group
School Supplies
May marks the end of the year for many schools, but it is not
too early to think about school supplies for the upcoming
school year! VAC will again need school supply & backpack
donations to help Boone County’s low-income children.
If your business or organization would like to host a school
supply/backpack drive, please contact us!
Common items needed :
 Backpacks
 Colored pencils
 Composition notebooks
 Crayons (box of 24)
 Dry erase markers
 Ear buds
 Erasers
 Glue sticks
 Highlighters
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





Loose-leaf paper
(wide and college ruled)
Pencils
Pens (black)
Pocket folders with brads
Scissors
Spiral Notebooks
(wide and college ruled)
Washable markers
Book Sale Supports VAC
A big THANK YOU to the
Mid Missouri Reading
Student Association!
MMRSA once again hosted a book
sale in Townsend Lobby April
27th—May 1st. This sale allowed
local teachers to build their classroom libraries at reasonable
prices. All donations benefited
Voluntary Action Center.
Thanks for your support!
Lunch in the Park
Lunch in the Park will take place June 8th to August 7th at
Douglass Park. This summer program provides free and
healthy lunches as well as enriching educational programs
for low-income children.
For more information about this program, visit our website
at vacmo.org. To volunteer, contact us at 573-874-2273 or
e-mail us at vac@vacmo.org.
Please note that lunch will not be served on July 3rd.
Christmas in July
Voluntary Action Center will once again host Christmas in July! This summer event provides a
Christmas-themed picnic for low-income individuals and families, and children have the opportunity
to meet with Santa. Last year, we were able to serve over 500 members in our community!
Be on the lookout in your mailboxes for raffle tickets! Each ticket purchased will help fund a meal for
a child or adult at the picnic, and we will enter the donor’s name in a drawing for fabulous prizes!
VAC thanks you for your support.
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Columbia, MO. 65201
Permit No. 141
403A Vandiver Dr.
Columbia, MO 65202
Return Service Requested
VAC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Andrea Benna
SECRETARY: Michelle Zvanut
TREASURER: Bob Fisher
PAST PRESIDENT: Shawn Barnes
Billy Borgmeyer
Barbie Banks
Robert Churchill
Brian Cunningham
Jennifer Deaver
Paul LaRose
Kari Laudano
Sara Emily LeMone
Carol McEntyre
Kelsey Meyer
Chris Rosskopf
Diamond Scott
Scott Sutherland
Ted Webber
VAC STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Nick Foster
FINANCE ADMINISTRATOR:
Debbie Jones
SOCIAL SERVICE SPECIALISTS:
Gay Litteken, Lisa Restivo,
Jackie Wilmes
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT:
Leslie Song
Meet Leslie and Gay
VAC is happy to introduce Leslie Song and Gay Litteken to our staff team!
Leslie joined us as our new Administrative Assistant on April 30th, and Gay
began as a new Social Service Specialist on May 6th. We’re excited to
welcome them and know they will contribute much to Voluntary Action
Center’s mission and vision!
Mark Your Calendar:
Summer Fan Program: May 18—September 11
Window AC Exchange: May 19—September 10 (Tues. & Thurs.)
Lunch in the Park: June 8—August 7
(Lunch will not be served July 3)
Christmas in July: July 9
The Voluntary Action Center Newsletter
is published quarterly by:
Voluntary Action Center
Vol. 18 Issue 2, May—June 2015
Visit www.vacmo.org
for more information about VAC’s programs
or to sign up for VAC’s e-newsletter.
Connect With Us:
www.facebook.com/vacboone
www.twitter.com/vacmo