Tag: nonprofits

Posted in News and Features

Volunteers Needed for Summer Camp Put on By Nonprofit That Supports Children and Families Affected by Childhood Cancer

Posted on by Amanda

When a child gets diagnosed with childhood cancer, the diagnosis affects the entire family. While no family wants to imagine the unthinkable happening, the reality is that children get diagnosed with cancer every day and it puts families in a spot where their entire world shifts, yet life still continues. There are bills to pay, jobs to work, school to attend, and everyday obligations, in addition to the well-being of the sick child and the rest of the family, as well as financial considerations, and the list goes on.

HIS KIDS Cancer Support Group was founded in 1984 and it is a nonprofit that helps ease the financial burden of treatment by providing food, holiday gifts, and other needs to families.HIS KIDS founders Jim and Connie Miles lost their daughter Marcia to childhood cancer in 1982 and for over four decades the nonprofit has helped families navigating childhood cancer.

Another part of the organization’s mission is to bring hope and joy to all family members at all stages of their childhood cancer battle- from diagnosis, throughout treatment, and beyond through uplifting events and therapeutic programs, including its annual Camp HIS KIDS summer camp.

Camp HIS KIDS campers and support staff group shot.
Camp HIS KIDS is a week long summer camp experience for children with cancer, as well as their siblings. This year the camp will be held in Franklin County and the organization is currently seeking camp volunteers. Photo via HIS KIDS on Facebook.

The camp provides a unique experience by giving both children with cancer as well as their siblings an opportunity to meet other kids that are going through the same circumstances. The camp is therapeutically designed to meet the emotional and social needs of campers as well as the physical ones, with activities planned by an art therapist, counselor, recreation specialist, and an early childhood education specialist. 

Camp HIS KIDS was located at a campground in Illinois for several years, but in 2026 it will be held at a campsite right here in Franklin County. Camp HIS KIDS relies on around 50 volunteers to make the week long event a success for children, and the nonprofit is currently seeking volunteers for the July 19-24 event.

There are numerous ways to make an impact as a volunteer, and the organization is seeking day volunteers to help out in various roles. Volunteers may help with things like activity setup to more specialized roles for photographers, lifeguards, and camp nurses (must be an RN). If you’re unable to physically volunteer, you may support the camp with a monetary donation. The organization has an Amazon wish list filled with supplies needed for camp. View the wish list here.

Anyone interested in volunteering for Camp HIS KIDS should apply online.

More about Camp HIS KIDS

Camp HIS KIDS has been twice awarded the Stellar Performance Award for Best Special Needs Camp in the St. Louis area, and is a member of the Children’s Oncology Camping Association (COCA) which strengthens children’s cancer camps through networking, education, and advocacy.  In 2017, the organization was awarded Gold Ribbon Camp Status for exceptional oncology camping and was re-certified in 2022. 

Find out more about HIS KIDS by visiting its website, or follow the organization on Facebook.

Posted in Advertorial Feature

Meet Julia Weitzel, the Eureka-based Real Estate Agent with a Vision to Give Back to Area Youth

Posted on by Amanda

When it comes to buying or selling a home, it’s important to work with an agent that has your best financial interests and lifestyle needs in mind. Both buying and selling situations can be exciting as well as stressful since there’s a lot of things out of your control, like market conditions, interest rates, and available home inventories. Having a skilled real estate agent on your side means someone will be there to share their knowledge of the local market, help you negotiate the best deal, find your dream home, or the best buyer for the home you’re selling. 

One such area realtor is Eureka-based residential real estate agent Julia Weitzel. Julia has been in the industry for five years and during that time she has built a reputation of being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies through expanding her experience helping clients in the St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, St. Charles, and Lincoln County markets.

She’s had a thriving career so far, and has helped dozens of clients purchase their first homes, their forever homes, and their dream properties. Although she’s found success in the field, real estate is a career she came upon purely by happenstance. 

Real estate agent Julia Weitzel has a reputation for being a helpful and knowledgeable agent that stays ahead of market trends and current pricing strategies. Photo via Julia Weitzel on Facebook.

Before real estate she volunteered at a children’s hospital and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. Her original career trajectory was to become a child life specialist working with children and families in hospitals. After she earned her bachelor’s degree she got a job working in a title company in order to earn some money and take a little time off before going back to school to earn her master’s degree in social work. 

Instead, through her job at the title company, Julia found her way into real estate when she met her now husband, Michael, who was working in real estate at the time. Today, Julia works closely with her husband, now a mortgage lender, and the couple often help people through the buying process with Julia handling the real estate portion and Michael walking buyers through the lending and loan approval process. 

She grew up in nearby Cedar Hill, located in Jefferson County, and looking back at her childhood, Julia points to attending home showings with her mom as a situation that stands out.

“My mom did real estate part-time when I was a kid and I went with her to show houses sometimes. I thought it was so cool,” she recalls.

Helping local heroes save money

Giving back to the community is important to both Julia and Michael, and the Weitzels participate in Homes for Heroes, a nation-wide program which helps active duty military members and veterans, teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS receive significant savings when buying or selling a home, or when refinancing a mortgage. The program partners with local real estate agents who give back a portion of their commission to the hero at closing, and participating mortgage lenders provide a credit toward the buyers’ finances for the loan, which also comes out of the lender’s commission.

However, giving back to the community doesn’t stop at the Homes for Heroes program. The Weitzels, who have two young children, are thinking about future ways they can help provide much needed resources for area youth.

A vision for area kids and families

Although she loves her career in real estate and helping people find a home that fits their lifestyle, Julia says the desire to do something for children is still something that’s on her heart. 

“My motive for continued success in real estate is to save funds to put toward a nonprofit organization for youth. Although, I do not plan on leaving the real estate industry, I have a desire to organize something special for the youth in the community and I am hoping that finding success in my business in real estate will provide me with the ability to do this down the road,” she shares.

“This desire is inspired by someone very special to me. I believe that many children find a positive outlet in life through sports, music, and other arts. I would love for the organization to be centered around providing these outlets for free to all children along with mentors and coaches that would provide valuable leadership and sportsmanship guidance that will be helpful to children succeeding in life. The goal would be to provide a healthy outlet for children while also building valuable skills at no cost in an easily accessible place.”

The idea is still in the developing stages and there’s still a lot that has to happen until her dream comes to fruition. Right now Julia and Micheal are in the beginning stages of saving funds to go towards startup costs of the organization. She knows that the organization will serve kids in the more rural counties, and could see it being needed in Jefferson or Franklin County, or possibly in a location that’s accessible to families in either county.

If you’d like to learn more about her or you’re looking for a realtor to work with, connect with Julia on Facebook, Instagram, or on her website.

Posted in News and Features

Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County Provides Comfort to Kids in Need

Posted on by Amanda

Project Linus is a nonprofit organization that provides handmade blankets to children in need. The blankets provide comfort and security to kids experiencing trauma, illness, or crisis. Currently, there are 300 chapters throughout the U.S., including one locally, Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County. Nationally, the organization has delivered over 10 million blankets to children in need since it started in 1995 in California.

The local chapter was formed in 2023, by Karen Favello. At that time, Karen was volunteering for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and learned about Project Linus online when a Facebook post about the organization caught her attention.

“I had never heard of it and thought, ‘wouldn’t it be cool if for every bed that Sleep in Heavenly Peace delivered they would also have a handmade blanket to give to the child as well,’” she recalls. 

Each month Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County holds a Make a Blanket event at Scenic Regional Library – Union Branch. Volunteers make as many blankets at they can during this two hour event. Photo via Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County on Facebook.

By the Numbers

So far, Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County has been able to deliver almost 1,200 blankets in the area. The blankets have been delivered to area organizations like Sleep in Heavenly Peace, House of Hope, and to local Angel Trees during the holiday season. 

In addition to being delivered to other area nonprofits, the individually bagged blankets are also delivered to first responder locations so first responders can give the blanket to kids in times of stress or crisis, such as after a car accident, to help provide a bit of comfort. 

“It’s been inspiring to watch it grow and help kids in the community,” she shares. 

A stack of fabric or quilted style blankets that will be delivered to children in need. Photo via Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County on Facebook.

The organization is completely volunteer-driven and since more hands mean more blankets can be provided for children, there have been group efforts to make blankets. From St. Clair High School students making blankets in their Family and Consumer Sciences class, to the monthly Make a Blanket event at Scenic Regional Library – Union Branch, as well as finding support from local businesses like DeAnn’s Dazzling Designs in St. Clair, where volunteers made crochet Granny squares for a blanket. 

“People want to feel like they can do a little something to make a difference,” Karen says of people’s willingness to help.

Volunteers of All Skill Levels Are Welcome

There are a few types of blankets that volunteers can make for kids, the most popular and beginner friendly style are the “fleece tie” type, which consists of cutting strips at the edges of a fleece blanket and tying, but crocheted and blankets that are quilted or made from fabric are also welcome.

There are also volunteer opportunities to help with making labels for the blankets as well as other behind the scenes duties. And, some volunteer blanket-makers have been found in what might seem an unlikely place, a local correctional facility.

After watching a documentary on Netflix called “The Quilters” about men in South Central Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Licking, Missouri, who make quilts for children in foster care, Karen was inspired to reach out to the warden at Missouri Eastern Correctional in Pacific to gauge interest about setting up a similar program, and so far, it’s a success. 

“The men have been respectful and very involved and interested in helping kids and learning new techniques,” Karen shares.

Drop Box Locations

People are also welcome to make and donate new blankets and deliver them at drop boxes located at businesses throughout Franklin County. A complete list of drop boxes can be found online, as well as a brief listing below –

Washington: Yarn Together, Andy’s Produce, and Washington Library. 

New Haven: Lang-a-Tang Cafe, Golden View Farm, and Save A Lot.

Union: Andy’s Produce Too, Cotton’s Ace Hardware, and Union Community Center. 

St Clair: Farmers and Merchants Bank, R&R Ace, and DeAnn’s Dazzling Designs.

Sullivan: Devine Quilts, Fabrics, & Hobbies and Petals & Plants.

Blanket drop boxes are located at businesses throughout the area. Photo via Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County on Facebook.

If you’d like to volunteer with Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford County, you can RSVP to attend a blanket making session, held the fourth Saturday of each month at Scenic Regional Library – Union Branch. The next Make a Blanket event at the library is on Saturday, March 28 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. You can also find out more about the organization by visiting its website, or following the nonprofit on Facebook. 

Posted in News and Features

Meet the Women Providing Meals for the Community Through the Nonprofit Feeding on Faith

Posted on by Amanda

A couple of years ago, friends Mary Stevens and Judy Mattox felt called to make meals for people in need. At first they organized a small group that served meals at their shared church, and while that was a successful effort, they both felt led to do more, but in order to do that they’d need to take a couple leaps of faith, like registering as a nonprofit, finding a kitchen where they could prep and cook meals, and raise funds.

Feeding on Faith has been official since November of 2024, after everything was finalized – from becoming a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, to meeting health department requirements, to finding a kitchen and place to serve meals, all of which took about six months. 

Things really started to pick up for the organization once they were able to begin organizing community meals served at the Marylou Community Building in Truesdale, located in Warren County, which started this past summer and is still going strong.

Mary, left, and Judy, right, are the duo behind the nonprofit Feeding on Faith. Photo credit: Feeding on Faith via Facebook.

The meals they’ve served have changed along with the seasons, over the summer the ladies served items like “walking tacos” for lunch at the concession pavilion located outside of the Marylou Community Building. During that time, they fed a lot of kids since school wasn’t in session, as well as some single adults, retirees, and families.

Mary and Judy say they still see “a pretty good mix of people” at each community meal, with many return attendees.

“We see a lot of families and we hear the same thing each time: ‘you don’t know how much this helps,'” Mary shares.

And since the women both feel like creating this nonprofit was a calling from God, it’s important that the help they provide often looks like the kind of comforting meal you’d get if you were invited to a friend’s house for dinner.

Casserole meals are popular dishes, but the ladies have also made hearty meals like scalloped potatoes and ham, soups and chili, as well as sandwiches and chips, and chili dogs. Although both ladies love to cook for others, Judy is the baker of the two, so every meal also includes a dessert of some sort.

Although they’re a fairly new organization, they’ve made a significant impact for those in need. So far, they’ve served over 900 meals to the community, helping to feed people at the community meal events as well as providing meals to nearby shelters.

“We really wanted to serve 2,000 meals last year, but in the beginning we had some delays with renting a kitchen,” Mary explains.

In addition to feeding people at the every other Monday community meals, some of the shelters and other groups they’ve provided meals for include a domestic abuse shelter and they’ve helped make lasagnas for the Lincoln County chapter of the nation-wide meal train program called Lasagna Love.

Having access to the space inside Marylou Community Building once every other week means they have a place to keep their supplies, a requirement per the health department, but also it means they’re able to preserve any leftovers and purchase more perishable ingredients in advance.

“We were able to buy a freezer, so now we can buy things when they’re on sale,” Judy says.

The ladies make all the meals that they serve to the community. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

As a nonprofit they rely on donations and volunteers, and whenever they’re able to make ingredients and funds stretch, the more people they’re able to help. Mary shares that since they’re such a new organization, a lot of volunteers at Feeding on Faith have been friends and family, although they also welcomed a Girl Scout Troop to help serve a community meal last year.

And there’s also been support from individuals and organizations in the community, including Cuivre River Electric, Long Row Lavender Farm, Woodbridge Corp., Sam’s Club in Wentzville, and many more. Without those donations – of both funds and supplies – the nonprofit wouldn’t have been able to make such a profound impact.

Planning for the future

Both Judy and Mary see Feeding on Faith expanding to help even more people.

“Judy wants a food truck,” Judy says with a laugh.

The women hope to grow the nonprofit by purchasing a food truck or food trailer so they can be mobile to meet, and feed, people where they’re at.

“That’s this year’s partial goal,” Mary adds.

Mary also envisions having a bigger space that’s all their own, so they can have premade, frozen meals ready to help people whenever they need it.

“We’re very grateful to be able to use this space, but unfortunately we don’t have access to it all the time,” Mary shares of the Marylou Community Building. “I’d love to make up individual meals in advance and put them in the freezer at our own place so that if someone reaches out and needs a meal for that day, we can easily help.”

Mary and Judy work together to make multiple lasagnas in an assembly style at the Marylou Community Building in Truesdale. In January 2026, the Feeding on Faith community meal was lasagna, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Photo credit: The Socialite_Amanda Bretz

The next community meal served at the Marylou Community Building in Truesdale is on Monday, Feb. 2, from 5-6:30 p.m. If you’d like to learn more about Feeding on Faith, you can follow the organization on Facebook, or visit its website.

Note: This article is part of a series highlighting volunteer groups, individuals who give back to area causes, and people who are building community, such as the piece I wrote on The Homemade Exchange. If you know someone making a positive impact in or around the Franklin County area, email me at smalltownsocialitemo@gmail.com and I may feature them on the website.