The pink grocery bag fundraisers also netted a check to JNM for $81.

The mitten tree — an Ivy tradition — overflowed this year with mittens, hats and scarves, which were divided between JNM and Circle of Concern. Both of these organizations said how much these items were needed, especially this year.

Your generosity made Christmas brighter for many families in our area! Thank you!

Watch this space for more thank yous and, by request — recipes from the great food served at the event.

About Circle of Concern (from their website):

Circle provides a variety of services to those in need. Operating as a food pantry, we hope that the food provided to the families will enable them to use their income for other needs.

Food Pantry: Each month over 1,000 people receive food from Circle. Families receive groceries once a month based on the size of their family. They get canned goods, frozen meats, fresh produce, bakery items, bread, milk & eggs. Personal care items & paper products are also given out each month.

Financial Aid: Circle provides emergency assistance for rent, utilites, prescriptions, gas vouchers and other necessities. Such aid is provided on an individual basis as funds are available at Circle.

Circle is operated primarily by the dedication of over 150 volunteers and the support of the community through monetary and in-kind donation.

Programs

Scholarships: Each spring high school seniors from low and moderate income families can apply for a scholarship through Circle. These scholarships are used for college tuition as well as trade or professional schools.

Back To School: Each summer Circle organizes a school supply drive to provide students of our families with new supplies for the upcoming school year. Each student (kindergarten through high school senior) receives a pre-sorted bag of supplies and a backpack. Gift cards are given out so families can get items specific to their child’s school. Over 400 kids were helped in 2009.

Camperships: Over the summer months Circle provides numerous children with the opportunity to attend various camps and programs.

Winter Holiday Programs: Every winter Circle shares the spirit of the Holidays by providing our families with a Holiday Basket filled with a turkey, other food items & gifts for Thanksgiving. Circle also matches sponsors with our families for Holiday Adoptions and Circle organizes a toy drive to give children a new toy at Toy Day.

Birthday Club: Children under 12 receive a gift from Circle on their birthday. Along with a new toy, each child often receives a Birthday Bag that has cake mix, icing & party favors/supplies.

About Joint Neighborhood Ministry (from their website):

Our Mission is to promote the transition of families toward greater independence, by providing Christian-based, supplemental and emergency support services and educational programming to an “at risk” population.

Since 1966, Joint Neighborhood Ministry has delivered help and hope to low-income families.

We began as an outreach of two south city churches, Epiphany United Church of Christ and Curby Memorial Presbyterian Church.  In 1986, St. Marcus United Church of Christ partnered with Joint Neighborhood Ministry and became incorporated.

Location and the Neighborhood we Serve:

We’re located in the Benton Park neighborhood of south St. Louis City. We serve an area that is basically zip codes 63118 and 63104. The food pantry, clothing room, and offices are located at the rear of Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair.

Who We Help

Our programs and services are available to all neighborhood families without discrimination.

• Over half of our clients are children.
• Client incomes average $600 per month (or less) for a family of four.
• High incidence of unemployment or underemployment.
• Over 50% of those over age 16 have not finished high school.
• Higher than average infant mortality rate in the area.
• Higher than average reported incidents of child abuse and neglect in the area.

How We Help (Click on links below for additional details.)

• The Food Pantry provides supplemental and emergency hunger relief.  A Senior Food Delivery Service is available for those over 60 and/or those with disabilities.
• The Clothing Room is open on Tuesday mornings for our families to supplement their wardrobe.
• The Family Advocate program assists families whose utilities or rent are in jeopardy.  The program also helps with emergency medical prescriptions and transportation.
• The JNM Full Circle Program assists Social Security and Social Security Income recipients with budgeting their incomes and managing their finances.
• Youth and Summer programming provides fun and educational activities and events for “at risk” youth.  Each summer, JNM offers about 100 children, ages seven to eleven, a week-long camping opportunity to experience the great outdoors.  Additional summer programming includes softball teams for youth and Vacation Bible School.
• JNM works in collaboration with other community organization such as Friends of Mom, Grace Hill Health Center, and Near Southside Employment Coalition to provide transition to independence.

Please leave comments here if you have ideas for ways we can all continue to support these worthy organizations… both at HarvestFest and all year long.