Community and Social Service
Where Everybody Knows Your Name (In a Good Way)
Things are different here. We know our neighbors. We’ll come together to deliver help when help is needed. Sound a little cliche? It’s true. One of the comments we hear most about our city is that people are friendly. They’ll stop and have a conversation — but it’s more than just talk. Ask anyone in one of our award-winning chapters of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions Club and Moila Shriners, or any of the long list of service clubs, and they’ll tell you about action. They’ll also tell you about partnership. Many of our service clubs work closely with our top-ranked nonprofit organizations, such as the United Way, Community Action Partnership, the YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Alliance and Hillcrest Transitional Housing.
ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS
In St. Joseph, we know who we are. We know where we’ve been. And through dynamic advocacy and development organizations, we know where we’re going. Our city’s distinctive regions each have their own personality and their own stories — and all make us a city of “uncommon character.”
The Community Alliance of Saint Joseph promotes a shared vision for the community through collective input from citizens. Made up of business leaders and representatives from city, county and educational organizations, the Community Alliance focuses on “Big 5” priorities and leads a community survey every two years to determine the priorities of local residents.
The St. Joseph Downtown Partnership Corp., operating within The St. Joseph Downtown Community Improvement District, creates and promotes economic and cultural opportunities within this special taxing district. This organization provides businesses and residents ways to fund new services and capital improvements.
The South St. Joseph Development Corp. is focused on preparing a revitalization plan for the southern region of the community, including a plan for more businesses, public use spaces, improved streetscape and more to improve and expand upon the area’s strong historic character. With a shared passion for the culture and character of south St. Joseph, the South St. Joseph Progressive Association meets monthly. This service organization is dedicated to the civic, economic development, educational and social interests of this distinctive area.
Uptown St. Joseph Redevelopment Corp. offers real estate and title development opportunities for this unique collection of historic neighborhoods and downtown business areas that include some of the area’s most show-stopping architecture.
ASSOCIATIONS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Club-meeters, joiners, group-gatherers and positive thinkers … unite. You’ll find an association, club or service organization to welcome you to the table in St. Joseph. We offer a high-energy and extensive list of organizations — including Rotary International, Optimists, Lions Club, Kiwanis, Freemasons/Shriners, and Moila — just to name a few. Networking circles, service societies and more meet regularly and actively gain new recruits. The Junior League of St. Joseph has brought women together from multiple generations since 1921 to lead and serve. Browse our list and see that we’re a city who likes to get together. And together, we get things done.
FOUNDATIONS
What makes us uncommon? We embrace the challenges and opportunities in the current moment … but we’re always boldly looking ahead. The Heartland Foundation’s visionary programs, events, partnerships, and action teams help build skills for the next generation by emphasizing the value of lifelong learning and community involvement. The goal is to grow the population of our area and encourage people to value the place they live. Sharing a similar goal, the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri fosters grassroots innovation and economic vibrancy in St. Joseph and the surrounding region. The Foundation serves as a vehicle for charitable giving, helping donors give to the causes they care about — causes that protect the legacy of “middle America,” from nonprofit organizations to faith-based groups and the arts. Organizations like the St. Joseph School District Foundation provide support for scholarships that enable both teachers and students to truly tap into their talents. Across our city, you’ll see that we address the challenge of poverty at the root level with real hope and real solutions. These efforts include the InterServ Foundation, which supports the current and future needs of InterServ – one of many well-established nonprofits dedicated to replacing poverty with opportunity.
SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
When people need help, we look for open doors in St. Joseph … and if we can’t find them, we make them. With more than 25 active social service organizations, we’re rewriting the book on hope and positive change. Nationally-known organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Community Action Partnership, the Salvation Army and the United Way link people to help and hope daily. Like getting involved as a volunteer? We’ve got a place for you and your talents on dozens of committees year-round.
UNITED WAY AGENCIES
Ready for inspiration? Every day, right here in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas, lives are improved through education, health, and financial stability to meet immediate needs and to address underlying problems. Donor dollars are invested in 17 local Partner Agencies and seven United Way Initiatives, reaching record-breaking totals for the Midwest. You are invited to LIVE UNITED along with us by giving, advocating and volunteering. See the full list of United Way Partner Agencies here.
I have never had people work so hard to help me get ahead in life. They had hope for my future. I have been in and out of the YWCA Shelter for the past five years, and while we were here, I would send my children to group activities. I began working with the domestic violence outreach program and they helped me apply for an apartment. My advocate helped me apply for a car through a local charity. I never expected my time at the YWCA to have such an impact on my life … people here are always trying to help me move ahead in life. I am truly thankful. I know that this will always be a safe place.
YWCA Shelter Client