Dozens of deserving charities work to help Ozark Countians

Recognizing that many Ozark County residents consider making financial donations to charitable organizations this time of year, the Times is sharing information about some of the deserving charities that serve our area.

To have a charitable organization that serves Ozark County included in an upcoming edition, contact Jessi Dreckman: 417-679-4641, jessi@ozarkcountytimes.com.

DOW Camp

For decades, kids from Douglas, Ozark and Wright (DOW) counties have attended DOW Camp, a special week-long summer camp held at Hammond Mill Camp, near the North Fork of the White River southeast of Dora. Every year, cash gifts from individuals, groups and agencies make the camp possible for children who may not otherwise be able to attend camp. 

Campers, who range in age from 7 to 12, take part in a host of activities during the week such as performing in skits, dancing, swimming, games, crafts, camp sing-alongs and tie-dying T-shirts. 

To donate, make checks payable to DOW Camp and send to Century Bank of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 68, Gainesville, MO 65655.

Options Pregnancy

The Gainesville branch of Options Pregnancy, located at 98 First Street in the former Verizon Wireless store next to Bullseye, is a completely donation-run, nonprofit organization that aims to provide education, support and resources to local women and families of unplanned and/or crisis pregnancies. 

The organization provides classes on pregnancy, birth and parenthood, emotional support, diapers, clothing and other baby necessities free of charge to the women and families enrolled in its program. 

To make a one-time or monthly tax-deductible cash donation, visit the Options Pregnancy office on First Street next to the Gainesville License Office. Donors can make other arrangements by calling manager Kayla Dry at 417-543-6605. Cash donations can also be mailed to PO Box 54, Gainesville, MO 65655.

For more information, call manager Dry at 417-543-6605.

Back to School Basics in Dora

The Dora Back to School Basics non-profit organization is dedicated to providing all basic school supplies needed, free of charge, for students within the Dora School District. The program is completely volunteer run and financed through donations. 

The group also provides children’s coats and clothing, backpacks, hygiene products and other essential items.

For more information, contact Teri Shipley, 417-712-1017, or Shanna Barnett, 417-293-7471.

To make a tax-deductible donation, mail checks to 98 County Road 335, Dora, MO 65637. 

Gainesville School’s Care to Learn

The Care to Learn is a national initiative to provide immediate funding to meet emergency needs in the areas of health, hunger and hygiene so every student can be successful in school. Gainesville Schools started a local chapter in 2017 that continues to provide students with immediate needs including health and hygiene items, coats and other items.

To make a tax-deductible donation, make checks payable to Gainesville Care to Learn and mail to Community Foundation of the Ozarks, PO Box 8960, Springfield, MO 65801.

Donations can also be made on the Community Foundation of the Ozarks website, cfozarks.org. Select “Donate Now,” fill out the form, and under gift designation select “other” from the dropdown menu, and type in Gainesville Care to Learn in the blank. 

For more information, contact Nicole Hambelton at Gainesville School at 417-679-4416. 

Foster Care Christmas Party

Organizers with the Ozark, Douglas and Wright Counties foster care program organize an annual Christmas party and event each year for the foster children in the three-county service area. The event organizers usually purchase wish list gifts for the children and create a large, extravagant Christmas party or other event for the families each December. 

For more about this year’s Candy Land-themed scavenger hung foster care Christmas party, see the Dec. 16 edition of the Times (“Covid couldn’t dampen the Christmas cheer of the annual foster care Christmas extravaganza”) for information on this year’s Candy Land themed scavenger hunt. This year the wish lists of 175 children were fulfilled.

To financially contribute to next year’s event, make checks payable to Ava Assembly of God-Foster Care Party and mail to PO Box 1240, Ava, MO 65608.

Ozark County Toy Drive

For decades, the Ozark County Toy Drive, operating completely on donated funds, has provided gifts, stocking stuffers and other items for 350-450 Ozark County children annually.

Throughout the year, chairperson Nancy Walker shops for toys and games, kid-favorite food items and gently used clothing to be offered to parents for children of all ages. (For a report and photos about this year’s toy drive, see the Dec. 16 edition of the Times (“‘Splendid’ volunteers distribute toys, gifts for 350-plus kids at 2020 Toy Drive”). 

To donate, make checks payable to Ozark County Toy Drive and mail them in care of Nancy Walker, 378 Harlin Drive, Gainesville MO 65655. 

Ozark County Food Pantry

The Ozark County Food Pantry provides no-cost food to qualifying Ozark Countians during two distributions each month at its facility on Highways 160/5 a short distance west of the Gainesville business district. This year, during the pandemic,  more families than ever have been using the food pantry’s services, says Rhonda Suter, administrator of Ozark County Health Department, which manages the food pantry. In November, 404 Ozark County families were served, and food pantry workers had to go buy more food to replenish supplies during the distribution days.

The food pantry cooperates with Ozarks Food Harvest and other regional organizations. Distribution days are the Wednesday after the first Monday of the month (so it’s never on the first of the month, if the month starts on Wednesday) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the following Wednesday of the month (usually this is the second Wednesday).

Volunteers are needed, and donations of non-perishable food items are gratefully accepted. However, cash donations to the food pantry are especially welcome because the nonprofit organization is usually able to buy more food at discounted prices with its money than individuals can purchase on their own. 

Call OCHD (417-679-3334) for information about donating nonperishable food items, volunteering or qualifying for assistance from the food pantry. Checks to the Ozark County Food Pantry can be mailed to OCHD at P.O. Box 180, Gainesville, MO 65655.  

Ozark County Ministerial Alliance

Many Ozark County churches are represented in the Ozark County Ministerial Alliance, which responds to families’ and individuals’ benevolent needs year-round, including such things as emergency shelter and utility bills. The group’s main fundraiser is an annual Ozark County community Thanksgiving church service, but this year’s service was canceled due to the covid-19 pandemic. Alliance president Halbert Smith said Ozark County churches have been asked to take up a special collection to benefit the alliance, and direct donations from individuals and other groups are welcome. “If anybody can help us, we’d appreciate it,” Smith told the Times.  

To help, make tax-deductible checks payable to Ozark County Ministerial Alliance and mail them c/o Halbert Smith, P.O. Box 206, Gainesville, MO 65655. For more information, call Smith at 417-257-3880.

Gail’s Pets Second Chance

Gail’s Pets Second Chance is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to finding loving, forever homes for rescued dogs. The shelter is located in Oakland, Arkansas, just south of Pontiac. 

To find out more, visit gailspets.org or search for “Gails Pets Second Chance” on Facebook. To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check to Gail’s Pets Second Chance, PO Box 83, 310 MC119, Oakland, AR 72661. Donations can also be made by credit card on the website.

Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Post 412

Members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association enjoy riding motorcycles together, of course, but the focus of their organization is raising money to support local-area veterans in need. The group provides assistance for veterans in tough financial situations and also helps arrange things like rides to doctor appointments. 

Its main fundraising events are a St. Patrick’s dinner at Cookie’s Café ion Theodosia and a motorcycle “poker run” in September, but donations are welcome any time of year. To help, make checks payable to Chapter 412 CVMA and mail c/o Terry Wyrick, P.O. Box 262, Clarkridge, AR 72623.