OACAC’s 5th Annual MO Mac & Cheese Fest, presented by Schreiber Foods and Power 96.5, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 from 11:30am* – 2:30pm at the University Plaza Convention Center, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway in Springfield. The MO Mac &......
OACAC Receives MHDC Funding to Help with Disaster Relief in Barry County For Immediate Release (October 16, 2024) Following a major disaster declaration, Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) has received $80,000 in disaster relief funding from Missouri Housing Development Commission. These funds are to......
From 10/15/24 – 11/22/24, in partnership with Park Crest Baptist Church, our Greene County Center is offering Thanksgiving basket sign-ups. Please visit https://oacac.itfrontdesk.com or call (417) 350-5544 to schedule an appointment....
The OACAC Area Board will meet at 6pm on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 via Zoom and individual locations. The meeting agenda is below....
The 2024 OACAC Toy Run in Lawrence County will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024, beginning at 10am. Bring one new toy to donate to a child in Lawrence County to Aurora Baptist Temple, 1111 South Elliot Avenue in Aurora, MO. Details below....
OACAC offices and centers will be closed in observance of the holiday on Monday, October 14, 2024. Information and applications can be found at www.oac.ac....
A special board meeting will be held at 4pm on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Details are below. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 880 1603 2143, Passcode: 794250 Dial by your location • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 646 931 3860 US...
“I found out about OACAC through a friend that I was working with at another center, not with OACAC, she had moved here and so I followed her. I came here and it felt like a team, like a home. It felt huge, like a......
OACAC Head Start is having a sale on 10/18/24 from 9am-1pm at 510 N. Main in Springfield. Items include office furniture, classroom furniture, some classroom materials, and toys. Priced to sell. CASH ONLY. If you purchase, you must be able to take with you during......
Are you heading to the Harvest Homecoming Fest this weekend in Lockwood? Stop by our Dade County Neighborhood Center and say hi, peruse our yard sale items and find a treasure, pick-up a delicious treat – baked items, chili, soup, and doggy biscuits – and......
Our Family Planning Clinic is holding a breast cancer awareness fundraiser to support clinical services which include breast exams and cervical cancer screenings. For a $5 donation, supporters will receive: Donations can be made at the Family Planning Clinic, 215 S. Barnes in Springfield....
Stop by Wendy’s in Marshfield anytime on 10/26/24 and show this flyer to support poverty relief in Webster County. Thanks!...
Effective October 1, 2024: In an effort to have more time with our clients and serve the community, our Neighborhood/Community Centers have moved to an online scheduling system. Please visit https://oacac.itfrontdesk.com or call (417) 350-5544 to schedule. This system will allow you to choose a......
At our Area Board meeting this week, we were happy to recognize Rhonda Waide as board member for September 2024. Rhonda has served the Dallas County community for 19 years as an advocate who is compassionate, giving, and always makes people feel seen and heard.......
The public is cordially invited to stop by to watch a live demonstration of weatherization measures and learn more about OACAC’s Weatherization program. When: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 between 11am – 1pm Where: 4120 W. Tildens St. in Springfield, MO National Weatherization Day is an......
October is Housing America Month and a time to celebrate the critical role affordable housing programs play in building and sustaining healthy communities nationwide. In recognition of Housing America Month, the public is cordially invited to attend an Open House on Tuesday, October 22, 2024......
The OACAC Area Board will meet on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The meeting agenda is below....
Do you like chili? And BINGO? Then you’ll love our Stone County Neighborhood Center’s Annual Chilingo event! Make plans to join us on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 for food and fun in support of poverty relief in Stone County, MO. Doors open at 5pm. Where:......
“I’ll just start at the beginning, I was born in Dothan, Alabama. I’m a military brat and moved all over the world. We moved here from the Canal Zone in ’74 and I’ve been here ever since. Back in the middle 70’s I was a......
On Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, our 18th Annual LIHEAP vendors and partners meeting was held at OACAC. LIHEAP staff, vendors and partners from our 10-county area and from the State attended and shared updates and plans for the LIHEAP 2025 season. Mixed in with the......
El 5º Festival Annual del Mac & Cheese de OACAC se celebrará el sábado 11 de enero de 2025 de 11:30 a 14:30 en el University Plaza Convention Center, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway en Springfield. El MO Festival del Mac & Cheese conecta......
Do you love mac & cheese, planning events, and making your community a better place? If so, you are invited to join the MO Mac & Cheese Fest planning team! Our next meeting will be held by Zoom on September 17, 2024, at 1:30pm. Details......
Congratulations to our colleague, Bridgette, on her completion of ROMA training. ROMA stands for Results Oriented Management and Accountability and it provides a framework for continuous growth and improvement among Community Action Agencies nationwide. Bridgette will use her training to assess poverty needs and conditions,......
“They told me out of all 10 county areas and Central Office I’ve been here longer than anybody! I am proud and I’ve loved Head Start, we’ve gone through so many changes through the years, there’s been lots of improvement, it always seems to be......
OACAC offices and centers will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. We’ll reopen for regular business hours on Tuesday....
At our 8/27/24 Area Board meeting, we recognized Tammy Gomez of Lawrence County as our Board Member of the Month for August. Tammy has served as a low-income advocate and active volunteer for several years, assisting with REALL simulations, fundraising, garnering community support, food collections......
Congratulations to our colleague and friend, Todd Steinmann, on winning first place in New Chapter Coaching’s 10th annual Make It Happen campaign. As OACAC’s Weatherization Director, Todd was nominated and received the most votes from friends, colleagues, families, and fans for his outstanding contributions to......
#DYK? You can support OACAC and poverty relief in SW MO by rounding up your purchase at checkout on Walmart.com. It’s easy to set-up. 1. Visit walmart.com or the app 2. Sign in to your account or create a new one 3. Click “Account” 4.......
The OACAC Area Board will meet on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. The meeting agenda is below....
“In 2002 my daughter went to the Head Start here with Joy Rothdiener, Penni Cole, and Jody McCrickard. Then the 2nd year when she went to Kindergarten they asked me if I wanted to sub and I started in the kitchen. When the new year......
The American College of Financial Services is offering a free state-of-the-art education and empowerment e-learning experience for those who want to improve their understanding of money and personal finance. It’s best for ages 18+, college students, adult learners, career readiness, and employee wellbeing. The class......
Do you love mac & cheese, planning events, and making your community a better place? If so, you are invited to join the MO Mac & Cheese Fest planning team! The first meeting will be held by Zoom on August 29, 2024, at 1:30pm. Details......
All OACAC locations will be closed on Monday, August 26, 2024 for All Staff Development. Information and applications can be found by navigating the tabs on our website....
August 2024: We are excited to announce a partnership with the Billings School District to offer after school care, beginning this school year! Call (417) 744-2623 to secure your child’s spot....
I worked for Head Start 8 years ago for about a year and a half and I loved it, but it was too much with my 3 boys at home. I wanted to be closer to them, so I moved to a job in our......
All OACAC Neighborhood/Community Centers will be closed on Tuesday, July 30 for staff training. Information and applications can be found at www.oac.ac....
VOTE FOR TODD TODAY! Congratulations to our friend and colleague, Todd Steinmann, on being nominated for the Make It Happen Award, honoring individuals that work in the nonprofit sector and “make it happen” every day! Read about Todd’s dedication to energy equity and Community Action......
I wake up every day and choose Head Start because someone woke up every day and chose the same for me. I started in early childhood at Little Sunshine’s, but I said ok I’m going to go to Head Start because that’s where it started......
An email was received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on July 18, 2024 which shares information about a recent and potentially ongoing scam regarding Section 8 funding. “Most recently, fliers have been circulating on social media advertising assistance with applying for......
It’s Prime Day on Amazon and if you’re online, looking for great deals, we would love for you to keep our People’s Pantry project in mind. By adding shelf stable food, pet food, hygiene products, or diapers to your cart and dropping off at any......
Thanks to a generous gift from a donor, we have a 2008 Ford Escape to give away! Must meet these qualifications to enter:1. 18 years + and a resident of Taney County, MO2. Income eligible and registered with OACAC3. Have or be able to obtain......
OACAC’s 5th Annual MO Mac & Cheese Fest, presented by Schreiber Foods and Power 96.5, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 from 11:30am* – 2:30pm at the University Plaza Convention Center, 333 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway in Springfield. The MO Mac &......
Join us for an evening of music, dancing, food, and fun! There will be a prize for the best costume. $5 cover at the door, ages 18+ only. When: Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 7-11pmWhere: H&H Pool Hall, Hwy 112 in Cassville, MO Proceeds benefit......
Summertime = Fireflies, and on 7/25/24, we hope you’ll join us at Painting With A Twist to get creative and inspired for poverty relief in Greene County. It’s fun and no creative or artistic skills are needed. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 1.......
Thanks to a grant from the Marshfield Area Community Foundation, relief from heat is available this summer for eligible Webster County residents. Call (417) 859-4589 to apply....
Do you have a passion for helping youth realize their potential? Do you think it’s important that teens know that decisions they make now may follow them into adulthood? For over 10 years, OACAC’s REALL project has aimed to do just that with a 3-hour......
UPDATED 7/3/24: The correct amounts for Missouri 2024 for a family of two are $25,550 at 125% and $40,880 at 200% FPL. (July 1, 2024) Effective today, July 1, 2024, the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program can now......
Throughout June, in collaboration with United Way of the Ozarks Day of Caring, we collected donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks to be shared with children during Tooth Truck visits. We put the call out for items that children would love,......
School supplies, resources, and more! Back to School Fairs are being held in Barry, Dade, and Dallas counties to help families with school supplies for their students. Eligibility guidelines apply. Barry County: Call (417) 847-2140 by July 2 to register Dade County: Call (417) 232-8020......
Celebrate The Arts • Support Poverty Relief We are grateful to be part of the Queen City Shout community of musicians and artists who share their talents; volunteers who give their time; sponsors and supporters who believe in the mission of this festival; attendees who......
Ping-Pong + Tennis + Badminton = PICKLEBALL! It’s fun and easy for beginners to learn. This Saturday, June 29, we invite you to bring your favorite pickleball pal and participate in OACAC’s first Pickleball tournament supporting poverty relief in Greene County, MO. Thanks to our......
OACAC offices and centers will be closed on Thursday and Friday, July 4 & 5, 2024 in observance of Independence Day. Information and applications can be found on our website....
OACAC offices and centers will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth. Information and applications can be found by navigating the tabs on our website....
June 13, 2024: Happy United Way of the Ozarks Day of Caring! We started the day with a great breakfast among fellow Day of Caring volunteers, project hosts, and community supporters. All month we’ve been collecting items for the Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile, aka,......
Hello and thanks for your interest in joining our mailing list. We are happy to share success stories, program information, volunteer opportunities, news of upcoming events, and more with you. Join our mailing list here. Scroll to the bottom of the page, enter your information,......
Congratulations to Kimberly Shinn-Brown, recipient of the distinguished 2024 Charles Braithwait Leadership Award! Kimberly exemplifies the essence of Community Action through her unwavering dedication to children and families. Enthusiastic about the mission of Community Action, Kimberly has devoted 29 years to Ozarks Area Community Action......
We’re pleased to recognize Susan Flores as our outstanding board member for May 2024. Susan is active in our community, engaged with the people we serve, knowledgeable of our programs, helpful with fundraising, and a cheerful, welcoming person. She has served on the board for......
During the month of June, OACAC is partnering with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile of the Ozarks to collect the items below, making a dental visit a bit more fun for little ones. Will you join us with the donation of a new item? Donations......
Our summer cooling program is underway for electric payments only. A shut-off notice is required. To request an application be mailed, call our automated line at (417) 864-3460. To print an application, visit https://oac.ac/liheap-energy-programs/. To complete and submit the application electronically, visit https://mydss.mo.gov/energy-assistance. Adobe Reader......
We celebrated May 2024 as Community Action Month and the 60th anniversary of Community Action all month and we thank you for celebrating with us by participating in our 60 in 4 campaigns. Throughout the four full weeks of May, we collected 60+ items to......
We’ve been celebrating May as Community Action Month and the 60th anniversary of Community Action all month and we thank you for celebrating with us by participating in our 60 in 4 campaigns. Throughout the four full weeks of May we have collected 60+ items......
We’re pleased to welcome our new Greene County Center Supervisor, Malea Cunningham. Malea is a Springfield native with a passion for giving back to the community. She is a graduate of MSU with a B.S. in Sociology and an M.S. in Counseling. Combining her passion......
We had fun celebrating our Foster Grandparent Volunteers at our annual recognition event on May 29, 2024. The theme was Back to the 50’s and this group knows how to have a good time! Thank you to all our volunteer grandparents who share their life......
Our Housing team had the joy of talking with a woman who has received assistance for over seven years and said she is “graduating” because she is paying rent independently and has stable employment with a local school district. She thanked our team for the......
Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Due to storm related power outages, our Barry County Neighborhood Center will be closed today. Information and applications for services can be found at www.oac.ac....
Join the OACAC Taney County Neighborhood Center team and board as they host the first annual Corn Hole Tournament on Saturday, June 22, 2024! Proceeds support poverty relief in Taney County. When: 10am Where: 5571 Gretna Road in Branson, MO Register by June 17, 2024....
OACAC offices and centers will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024 in observance of Memorial Day. Information and applications can be found at www.oac.ac....
The People’s Pantry project provides freestanding pantries in multiple locations across SW MO. Filled with shelf stable food, fresh produce, hygiene items, and more, people are encouraged to take what they need and leave what they can....
The OACAC Area Board will meet on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The meeting agenda is below....
CSBG Neighborhood/Community Centers in Greene and Webster counties will switch to summer hours beginning May 19. All other centers will operate on their regular schedules....
On Thursday, May 16, 2024 our Polk County Community Center will be closed in the morning for a REALL simulation. They will open at 12:30 that day....
Ping-Pong + Tennis + Badminton = PICKLEBALL! It’s fun and easy for beginners to learn. On June 29, we invite you to bring your favorite pickleball pal and participate in OACAC’s first Pickleball tournament supporting poverty relief in Greene County, MO. Thanks to our generous......
Our Greene County Center will be closing at noon on Friday, May 10, 2024 for a staff work day. Information and applications can be found at www.oac.ac....
Please join us in wishing Mike Hoffman a very happy retirement! Mike started at OACAC 30 years ago today and has been an important part of our Fiscal team. He is an active volunteer with multiple organizations which he will continue supporting. We thank him......
Join us on May 29, 2024 from 1:00-2:00pm as our Family Planning Nurse Practitioner, Aimee Adams, speaks about sexual health and relationships. This will be a judgement-free, relaxed class focused on protecting ourselves and others, testing, condom use, giving consent, birth control and pregnancy, and......
Happy National Nurses Day! We appreciate our nurses, Aimee and Erin, who serve with great compassion and kindness....
Celebrate May as Community Action Month and the 60th anniversary of Community Action with us by participating in any of our 60 in 4 campaigns. Throughout the four full weeks of May, we’ll be collecting 60+ items to share with the communities we serve! May......
Grandpa George has been serving as a Foster Grandparent volunteer since 2012. To say he is devoted to his role as a volunteer and the children he mentor and tutors is an understatement. Here are just a few samples of what his volunteer station staff......
The OACAC Area Board will meet on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The meeting agenda is below....
4/12/24: OACAC is the administrator for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) funding in Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster counties. Currently, Barry, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster counties have been awarded funding through he Department of Homeland Security/Federal......
4/8/24: We did a thing! Did you see it? While we weren’t in the path of totality, 97% coverage was still amazing to see....
A team of our colleagues from Housing, Fiscal, and CSBG assembled outreach starter boxes for folks in our Housing DMH program who have gone from unhoused to successfully housed. Each box contains necessities including detergent, cleaning supplies, and paper products. Twenty boxes were packed on......
Do you live in Taney County, Missouri? Do you need support to ensure success at work with items such as clothing, small car repairs, or other work related expenses.? Give our Taney County Neighborhood Center a call at (417) 239-1882. Eligibility requirements apply. Our thanks......
We’re happy to welcome Skylar Walker back to OACAC as the new Director of our Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program! CSBG is a program near and dear to Skylar’s heart, having first worked as VOICE Coordinator in 2018, Assistant CSBG Director in 2019, and......
Thank you, Sandra! Sandra Adams has been a wonderful asset to our Area Board and Christian County Advisory Board for a couple of years, but her time as an advocate for the people we serve goes way back. An avid volunteer with projects and special......
Give the gift of a book to a child or teen. Our free community library, located in our Central Office lobby, needs some adventures and stories to fill the shelves. While you’re at garage or estate sales, perusing the upcoming Friends of the Library book......
Many thanks to Head Start parent, Fatima, for giving her creativity, time, and materials to make this beautiful bulletin board. It hangs in a Head Start Center and is sure to inspire all who walk by....
The MO Office of Broadband Development just announced the official opening of the BEAD Challenge Portal. Challenges will be accepted from now until April 23, 2024. The purpose of the challenge process is to finalize the eligibility of Missouri homes and businesses for funding through......
Come hang out with OACAC Family Planning and support our services in the community by playing trivia! A portion of sales for Trivia Night will benefit OACAC Family Planning directly. When: April 18, 2024 from 7-9pm Where: 4 By 4 Brewery, 2811 E. Galloway in......
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, our Family Planning Clinic will host evening hours from 4-8pm. They will provide testing, reproductive healthcare, and more, along with drawings, music, and fun! Come see us at 215 S. Barnes in Springfield, inside the OACAC Central Office. For details,......
The VOICE project traveled to Southwest Elementary this week and had a great time with these enthusiastic students! Many thanks to all who made this possible, including educators and the folks who staffed each table. The VOICE project inspires young people to dream big about......
The OACAC Area Board will meet on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. The meeting agenda is below....
“We all love Grandma S and look forward to her coming and playing with our class. All the children and even the staff feel like she’s family. I couldn’t ask for a more positive, loving, person. Thank you!” Thank you to all the Foster Grandparent......
As participants in Empower Missouri’s Advocacy Partners program, we were charged with writing a statement which will focus OACAC’s advocacy work....
“Children need individuals from the community that will support them.” Grandpa Ritchie Would you like to share your talents, love, and encouragement with a child? Are you age 55+? We are recruiting caring adults to serve as Foster Grandparent volunteers in our 14-county service area......
Calling all Monopoly lovers – don’t miss the 13th Annual Ozark Mountain Monopoly Tournament! The tournament begins at 9:30am on Saturday, April 27, 2024. The player fee includes a position for the first 90 minute elimination round and potentially a seat in the championship round.......
Join the Eagle Riders 3948 and the OACAC Lawrence County Neighborhood Center for the first annual Tricycle Races For a Cause to alleviate poverty in Lawrence County, MO. When: Saturday, April 13 from 10am-3pm*The rain date is Saturday, April 20 from 10am – 3pm Race......
Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks Dallas County Affiliate, our Dallas County Neighborhood Center has assistance available for Dallas County adults to pay for their High School Equivalency Test (HiSET). The HiSET exam is the first step toward college, a......
Effective January 1, 2024, OACAC Family Planning is participating in a new program called The Right Time Grant. This grants pays for contraceptive methods and visits for patients who are uninsured or under-insured. Patients do not have to meet income qualifications for this grant, anyone......
In observance of Presidents Day, OACAC Centers and Offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19. Information and applications for services can be found at www.oac.ac....
