Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

a voluntary council of local governments
serving the missouri meramec area.

Osage County R-1 school receives $250 community grant for Pirate Care Closet

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For immediate release

For more information, contact
Maria Bancroft or Caitlin Jones

ST. JAMES—Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) awarded Osage County R-1 a $250 grant for the Pirate Care Closet. The check was presented at MRCF’s invite-a-friend luncheon March 12 at MRPC in St. James. This year, the MRCF board reviewed a total of 16 grant applications, requesting a total of $4,000 and representing projects in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. Osage County R-1 was one of six projects selected for funding.

The goal of the Pirate Care Closet is to provide basic needs of the students to ensure they are able to focus on their education. The community, served by Osage County R-1, has a poverty rate of 26 percent and the school provides free or reduced lunches to 52 percent of its students. The Pirate Care Closet will provide basic hygiene items, and hopes to add basic clothing items such as socks, hats, coats, and dress clothes. 

Other recipients, receiving $250, include:

  • Crawford R-1 Schools for its Caring Closet project, 
  • Richwoods R-VII Schools for its Project Safety First, 
  • Gasconade County Health Department for its Car Seats for Kids program,
  • St. James Parks and Recreation for its Little Tigers Sports and Games program, and 
  • Phelps County Historical Society for lighting and security of the blacksmith shop addition at the Dillon Log House. 

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 50 funds totaling over $2.64 million.

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 49 affiliate community foundations and more than 3,200 charitable funds totaling approximately $300 million in assets, as of June 30, 2019. 

MRPC, in addition to establishing the regional foundation and providing the initial investment to create a 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. Gasconade County Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 33 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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