The darkest hours of a person’s life makes it hard to see the sunlight. In the cases of domestic violence, even more so.
Fortunately, help exists in the Christian County Family Crisis Center, a not-for-profit corporation that provides shelter and case management services to battered women and children. It opened in 1996 and, over the past 12 years, the organization has protected the lives of more than 475 women and 525 children through the shelter and outreach services.
Thus, the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper is proud to partner with the Christian County Family Crisis Center. The tournament, part of the PGA Tour’s annual Web.com Tour stop in Springfield, has gifted almost $13 million to children’s charities in its 26-year history.
About the Christian County Family Crisis Center
The mission of the center says it all: “to provide shelter and advocacy for survivors and their children experiencing domestic violence and to provide education to break the cycle of abuse.”
In 1996, a group of concerned citizens came together to discuss a growing community epidemic—domestic violence. From this town hall meeting, the Christian County Family Crisis Task Force was developed. The Christian County Family Crisis Center covers the counties of: Barry, Christian, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster.
Over the past 20 years, the grassroots all-volunteer organization has grown into a vibrant agency governed by a board of directors with staff and volunteers to assist with service delivery.
In the late 1990s, the Task Force began accepting crisis intervention phone calls providing referral services, victim advocacy and support. The organization also initiated a community education/awareness campaign.
In 2003, the organization accepted the donation of a facility to provide shelter. The shelter is a former motel and each of the 17 units provides private living quarters with restroom/bathing facilities. Each unit has a minimum of four person capacity. The shelter has office space which consists of two rooms.
The staff operates out of one room and meets privately with clients in the second room. The facility has a commercial kitchen where meals are prepared by the clients. The kitchen was built with a grant from the Mary Kay Foundation.
The facility also has a classroom where volunteers teach financial management, parenting skills, etc. Finally, the facility offers a community room where clients can socialize, plus a playground, serenity garden and barbecue area.
About nine years ago, the organization opened Neat Repeats Thrift Store in Ozark to help fund the shelter operation. The thrift store is operated by a manager and volunteers.
During 2008, the organization expanded its case management services by hiring its first part-time shelter advocate. In 2010, the shelter advocate became a full-time position.
Today the shelter has three full-time and two part-time staff managing services to victims.
Contributions to the organization helps provide emergency shelter, food, clothing and everyday necessities. It also helps fund the staff providing crisis intervention and case management services to all victims and covers the crisis line 24/7. Volunteers assist with support groups, transportation, social activities, facility maintenance and office duties.
SUPPORTING THE PCCC = SUPPORTING CHARITIES
- HELP THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY FAMILY CRISIS CENTER: To assist the non-profit in any way, call 417-582-0344.
- BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses also can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the skyboxes on the 9th and 18th greens (with food badges), on-course signage and events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Businesses also can donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball & Charity Auction presented by Copy Products, Inc. and University Plaza.
The Ultimate sponsorship means air-conditioned seating on the 18th green and a chance to win a Corvette Stingray. - WIN A NEW TRUCK: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket can win one of 500 daily gift cards as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT. It’s also good for a four-day tournament pass.
Win this truck or $10,000 in the TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes, with a $25 buy-in. - SEE THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR: The PCCC is from Aug. 5-15, with the pros beginning play on Aug. 11 at Highland Springs Country Club. For tickets or other ways to assist, call the Price Cutter Charity Championship staff at 417-887-3400.
