Carthage Crisis Center purchases a new van

CARTHAGE, Mo. — A nonprofit has a new set of wheels to help its residents get back on their feet.

The Carthage Crisis Center recently purchased a nearly $6,000 2009 Chrysler Town & Country van.

The seven passenger van was purchased with money from a $2,500 grant from the Carthage Community Foundation.

“We had another van, but what would happen is we wouldn’t have enough vehicles to transport people. We transport them to doctors appointments, probation and parole. All kinds of other things. When people are getting back acclimated into society there’s a lot of things they need to take care of. So our biggest problem was we didn’t have enough vehicles,” said Jim Benton, Carthage Crisis Center Executive Director.

With the two vans the center can now transport 20 residents at a time and pick up food donations.

A local nonprofit is planning transitional homes in Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. — A nonprofit is getting help from the community to get up and running.

Vita Nova Village is raising funds to build several transitional homes.

“Vita Nova Village was born out of the idea of creating something to provide the next step to homeless people once they were ready to leave the shelters,” said Rhonda Thompson, Co-founder of Vita Nova Village.

Saturday night Vita Nova Village hosted a chili and pie tasting fundraiser at the Joplin Greenhouse and Garden Center.

“Our plan is to provide targeted training and education along with their own private living space their own individual home with no connecting walls. So they can go in and lock their door at night and like we do every night be at home,” said Thompson.

The village will consist of six, one bedroom homes that are 430 square feet.

“It sounds super tiny, but when you walk in one you would be amazed at how spacious they look and how homey they feel,” said Thompson.

Four Joplin residents came up with the idea last fall as a way to help curb the homeless population.

“I was homeless for a few years in this town and I was on drugs for a long time and I was lucky. I was able to go to a welding school and be able to utilize that program. I’m just hoping we can pull some of these other people that are less fortunate and have the same opportunity to get where I’m today,” said William Hillegus, Co-founder of Vita Nova Village.

The nonprofit is looking for several acres to build the village along with volunteers and sponsors to build each $35,000 home.

“There is a way out. And we will help to show you the way. It’s really up to them is to how much they want to pursue it. But we will show them and give them the tools to hopefully never be homeless again,” said Hillegus.

Local nonprofit is freezing out cancer

WEBB CITY, Mo. — A nonprofit is taking the plunge for a good cause.

Camp Quality Ozarks held its “Freezing Out Cancer — Holiday Bash” in King Jack Park.

The afternoon kicked off with its first polar plunge at Paradise lake.

Dozens of children and their families then enjoyed watching a movie, coloring and taking the polar express trolley through the park.

Camp Quality Ozarks is a support program that helps children fighting cancer and offers a summer camp and other events throughout the year.

“I was a previous camper myself and i just remember how important it was to me. I think it helps them be around people that are going through the same thing. It gives them hope, makes the connections. And not only for the campers, but for the parents, the siblings. When you go through cancer it is a lifetime change. So to be able to come together as a family and have those support is extremely important,” said Kristin Patterson, Executive Director of Camp Quality Ozarks.

The camp relies on volunteers and donations to fund its programs.

To donate to Camp Quality Ozarks click here.