Simple Organized Savings

Simple Organized Savings is an organization that offers simplified educational classes on a variety of different life skills. Classes are taught in a hands-on, practical way that engages the student. They believe we were designed to do life together, not alone; therefore, through the classes and mentorship programs they are able to equip students with the tools and resources they need to be successful.

SOS offers a variety of classes starting with foundational classes on time management as well as classes on meal planning, cooking and freezing, and basic finance courses to name a few. SOS also has the unique ability to work directly with organizations, companies, and schools to customize classes to fit their clients’ needs. For example, they are currently working with a local food pantry to offer a class on how to effectively use your SNAP money at the grocery store and local farmers market. Students will learn how to stretch their SNAP money and prepare the fresh food they buy with their SNAP dollars. Working with many professionals in our community enables them to create classes on almost any topic needed.

Since the founding of Simple Organized Savings in 2009 they have partnered with Healthy Living Alliance, Farmers Market of the Ozarks, Springfield Public Schools, Food Core, YMCA, Weller Elementary, Roberson Elementary, The Springfield Library, and 88.3 The Wind among others.

SOS firmly believes in investing in the community of people we are “doing life” with. They have seen first-hand the successful results of those who participate in their classes. They invite you to check out their testimony page.

Listen to the full interview now.

Springfield Little Theatre

Springfield Little Theatre is a volunteer driven organization, energized by the highest artistic ideals, that strives to entertain, educate and involve the community in live productions and in the preservation of the historic Landers Theatre. It's known as the primary theatre venue for thousands of audience members. They also produce a varied season of 8 musicals and plays chosen to entertain and challenge their audiences.

The Springfield Little Theatre organization, founded in 1934, purchased the Landers in 1970. Since that time, a number of restoration projects have been undertaken to return the facility to its full 1909 elegance. Many Springfield individuals as well as businesses and corporation have continued to contribute towards restoration of this excellently preserved Baroque Renaissance/ Napoleon styled architecture and decoration, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The city of Springfield’s Hotel-Motel Tax Matching Fund has helped to accelerate the plans for the theatre’s beautification. Recent restorations of the 527-seat structure have been cited with awards from American Institute of Architects.

For the past eighty years, Springfield Little Theatre has been the center of cultural life and entertainment in the Ozarks. As they enter the next 100 years of the Landers, the theatre is dedicated to maintaining that heritage by presenting the best of live theatre in an environment reflecting a rich past and an exciting, fulfilling future. Learn more about the ways you can be involved with the SLT at their website.  

You can listen to the interview now!

Dreams of Perfect Design

Rachel is the mother of 3 boys, wait take that back, 4 boys she includes her husband. She grew up in Southern California, was transplanted to the Midwest, and now lives past a big oak tree, left at a fork in a road, and right into the middle of nowhere. In college, Rachel earned a degree in fashion, loves contemporary and modern decor, and has an appreciation for the arts. Her husband was born and raised in the Ozarks. His fashion sense, she claims, includes 4 drawers of t-shirts, believes the only thing worthy enough to hang on the wall should come from the taxidermist, and also appreciates the arts; the art of saw-milling, the art of goat herding,the art of brush hogging, and the art of morel mushroom hunting. Regardless, they have been together over 10 years. God is Good, All the Time! The Dreams of Perfect Design blog is about the lessons Rachel has learned as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend in her journey of life. She likes to share little bits of her daily adventures and hopes that maybe, just maybe, it will impact someone else's life.

Learn more about the Designing a Difference Fashion and Art show that will help benefit Springfield Difference Makers and read what Rachel writes at her website.

If you want to listen to the interview just click this DOPD link.

Designing a Difference Art Auction and Fashion Show

Join us for a night of art, fashion, and fun! 

More for you at 88.3TheWind.com

Pregnancy Care Center

Pregnancy Care Center opened its doors in the year 2000. Their goal is to help young women and men throughout Southwest Missouri who are facing an unplanned pregnancy.  They offer free pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound and information on pregnancy options.
PCC is located along the "Medical Mile" in Springfield, Missouri, just east of Cox South hospital on Primrose. The clinic is medically supervised by Dr. Marc McCorcle, a local OBGYN physician. If they do not provide the specific services needed, they are able to refer clients to one of their many qualified community partners.
Most people know that the center helps people in the early stages of pregnancy by providing tests and ultrasounds. But many people are surprised to learn that they offer services from the initial pregnancy test, throughout the pregnancy and even after delivery. They also provide special services and support just for the guys as well. PCC offers a wide range of classes on topics such as nutrition, relationships, money management, legal issues, etc.
In everything they do, PCC strives to offer professional and confidential services at no cost to clients. When you walk through the doors of Pregnancy Care Center, you'll find a welcoming team of caring individuals who are here to help you without judgment or guilt. Their main concern is helping you with the challenges you face today and the ones that lay ahead. At PCC you have access to high-quality facilities, equipment and services, but the greatest asset is the caring and knowledgeable staff. You can call them 24-hours a day at 417-877-0800.
Hear the PCC Interview now.

Friends Against Hunger

Friends Against Hunger, FAH, is a non profit that operates solely on volunteer help. They do not have any paid employees and focus on keeping the cost low in an effort to help as many hungry people as possible. Their mission is to care for the poor by providing healthy meals for undernourished people in the United States and around the world.

Every meal is is put together in a unique way using a formulated vegetarian recipe that provides a rich source of easily digestible proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins with nine essential amino acids. This combination was developed by food scientists in order to help the undernourished recover from malnutrition. Furthermore, given the conditions often seen in developing countries, the meals are intentionally easy to prepare, requiring only the ability to boil water. The cost for each meal is only 18 cents so a person can eat for a month for about $16.00.

FAH has always had, and maintained, the vision to carry out their mission through volunteer support. They prepare each meal for shipment with the help of churches, schools, scouts, friends, and families. The assembly-line meal packing process is designed to be simple so that anyone wanting to help can. The guidelines to volunteer are that you must be at least 11 years old and accompanied by an adult if you are under 18. Learn more at the FAH website.

Hear FAH share their mission on the Springfield Difference Makers program. 

Great Circle

The Boys and Girls of Missouri might sound familiar to you. In 2009, Great Circle was formed by the merger of Edgewood Children’s Center with Boys & Girls Town of Missouri. The merger brought together nearly 200 years of youth social services programming and formed one of the largest children’s behavioral health organizations in Missouri. Great Circle impacts the lives of more than 10,000 children and family members each year through its nationally-accredited treatment, education, prevention and support services to children with a history of abuse or neglect, children with emotional and behavioral disorders and children with autism.

The local campus of The Great Circle is made up of eight acres in central Springfield. It includes six cottage residences for 69 children, a gymnasium, recreation complex, outdoor swimming pool, on-site classrooms, as well as administrative offices which provide services to children and families in the community. It is the home of the Ozarks Family Resource Center emergency shelter.

The Ozarks Family Resource Center is unique to the Springfield campus because it provides short-term shelter services for Southwest Missouri children removed from crises and homeless youth. It also offers parenting skills education classes for families at risk for child abuse and neglect, domestic unrest or violence. The center provides a warm, safe and nurturing environment for newborns to 18-year-olds, and emphasizes family mediation. The facility meets state licensing requirements for emergency child care. The website has even more about the Great Circle, formally the Boys & Girls Town of Missouri. 

Listen to their Springfield Difference Makers story. 

Kanakuk Kamp

Since 1926, Kanakuk Kamp has been showing kids the wonderful ways  to have  a relationship with Christ through excellence in non-denominational sports training, camping adventures, and Christian mentoring. The foundation of their mission is the scripture: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul...love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22), and they work to make sure that every Kamper- regardless of age- understands how it looks to walk in unison with these verses. They call it "I'm Third" - God First, Others Second, I'm Third.

At Kanakuk Kamp, they believe that America's greatest natural resource is the youth. Summer camp can be an incredibly effective time of growth for kids. Kanakuk's summer camp program is dedicated to developing dynamic Christian leaders through life-changing experiences, Godly relationships, and spiritual training.

The staff of over 1,800 hand-picked college Christian athletes, mentors to  kids through nightly cabin devotionals, counselor/Kamper time, youth-rally style (age appropriate) talks, and consistent Christian mentoring. It's their greatest hope that your child will return home ready to take what they've learned here, and share it with the world around them. Learn more about Kanakuk Kamp at theirwebsite.

Listen now

Springfield Regional Arts Council

The Springfield Regional Arts Council (SRAC) has a mission to transform lives and enrich our community through the arts. They work to connect people and the arts. SRAC supports some of the most prominent visual, performing, literary and film/media arts organizations within 27 counties, making it the largest outreach of any in the state of Missouri.

The SRAC  is comprised of a 21-member board and has a full-time Executive Director, Finance Director, Programs/Exhibition Director and Executive Assistant/Facility Manager. There are also several active volunteers who help with major events and projects. The SRAC has developed a solid internship program with local universities.

The vision of SRAC is to make the arts a vital part of the community, which is a place where the arts are essential.The SRAC's operations are funded through memberships, festival/event proceeds, grants, donations and a portion of the local hotel/motel tax. They also body a list of values that include creativity in all forms, collaboration and partnerships, leadership, innovation, quality, diversity and inclusiveness, accessibility, growth and education, as well as sustainability. 

Learn more about our Springfield Regional Arts Council today.
Hear the interview now. 

GearHead Ministries

Charles L. Courtois, Jr. is known by most people as “Junior” and was born and raised in Springfield, MO. He still lives here with his wife, Jennelle and they have one son, Nic, with special needs. Jr. came to know the Lord as an adult with only the regret that, “I didn't open my eyes and heart sooner.” After he came to know the Lord and surrendered his life to Him, he began serving in his local church. Quoting his dear friend, he states that, "nowhere in the Bible does it say after you accept Jesus, that serving is an option". He believes we are all called to serve.

Several years after that realization, Jr. surrendered to the Lord's call and became a licensed minister in May of 2004. A few years later, he was getting comfortable in what God had brought him to in his life. He had a good job, a family, and was doing GearHead Ministries through Evergreen Church when time allowed. GearHead Ministries has a goal that by working through the means of helping people with their automotive needs, they may be able to show them the love of Christ in a practical way that reaches them where they are.

When Jr. felt like God asked, "Will you do GearHead Ministries, Inc full time?" he struggled at first with questions of his own. The “how to” questions that God assured him that if they would jump off of the cliff with Him, He would teach them how to fly. He assured them if we had the faith, He had all our needs covered. So in January, 2007, Jr. resigned his job and began doing GearHead Ministries, Inc. on a full time volunteer basis.

Their Mission Statement
“To help people restore their relationship with God and to modify lives to represent Christ.Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.-Galatians 6:2”

Learn how you can help at the GearHead Ministries website today!

Listen to the interview.

Southwest Missouri Office on Aging

Sometimes an older person needs help from others. Often, this help can be provided by a network of family, friends, and neighbors. However, a senior who is unable to meet particular needs through a seemingly typical network must increasingly draw upon support from the larger community. The outside support might include a hot meal enjoyed with friends in a senior center dining room, a ride to the doctor, or in difference cases, meals delivered to the home, as well as the regular visits of a homemaker aide.

Across the United States there are 655 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). When seniors need help within the communities, the AAA are the first call. They encourage, coordinate, and deliver community-based services that link local, public, private, voluntary, and corporate resources. In Missouri, there are 10 AAAs, each serving a different region of the state. The Ozarks is served by Region 1 which includes 17 counties in Southwest Missouri.

The goal set for AAAs by the Older Americans Act is clear: develop comprehensive, coordinated services designed to encourage the optimal health and independence of older adults. Because the range of capabilities among older persons is wide, this is a complex challenge. At one extreme, a senior may be in excellent health without any challenges to independence. At the other extreme, a senior may be very frail and require constant care. In between these two extremes are diverse economic, social, and medical conditions. Learn more at the Southwest Missouri Office on Aging website.

Hear the interview to learn about SWMOA.

Gathering Friends

Gathering Friends for the Homeless is a community of friends with a common heart for supporting our homeless neighbors like family while forging lifelong friendships. They serve Springfield, MO by focusing on the needs of the growing homeless and food insecure population. The primary focus is to provide complete meals to the homeless, but in certain cases they will get involved in providing for other needs as approved by their board.

Because of generous volunteers they are able to gather items such as meal ingredients, completed meal components, and supplies for distribution to our homeless neighbors. The core of this program includes regular pick-ups from local farmers and stores in the community. Additionally, Gathering Friends has many groups, churches, teams, and businesses that will give a complete meal or prepare and freeze main dishes. They also receive financial contributions and convert them into the efficient purchase of items needed. Additionally, there is an Amazon list where items can be purchased and shipped directly to the Gathering Friends storage space (http://www.amazon.com/…/wi…/2NRY4O133L2UF/ref=topnav_lists_2).

If you are interested in learning more, please ask to join the Closed Group on Facebook when you search Gathering Friends or visit their website.

Here's the full interview for you to hear when you like. 

The Junior League of Springfield, Inc.

The Junior League of Springfield, Inc. has the mission of being an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

It was April 1959, when five women joined together to form the Community Service League of Springfield, Missouri. Their vision was to make a positive contribution to Springfield through their voluntarism and fund raising efforts. These ladies had no idea, even in their wildest dreams, the impact their organization would make in the decades to follow.

The Community Service League was accepted into the Association of Junior Leagues International in 1976, becoming its 231st member. The earliest fund raising efforts of selling fruitcakes evolved into multi-faceted, full-fledged businesses. Annual membership grew from 6 to 600. Today, this organization consists of leagues in 292 communities throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Great Britain.

There are over 160,000 Junior League members, of whom reflect a wide range of backgrounds, interests and professional pursuits as well as work together to identify unmet needs, forge effective coalitions and work for change. The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. has been providing support, guidance and leadership development opportunities to member Leagues for more than 89 years. Learn more at The Junior League of Springfield website.

Listen to the full interview.