Concerned Citizens For The Community, Inc.
P. O. Box 312
Chillicothe, MO 64601
Brief History of Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc.
In July of 1967 this organization formed a 501C3 not-for-profit corporation and it was named The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. This organization has served this community as an enabling organization for federal and local funds to be channeled to meet priority community needs.
1) Their first project was in response to President Johnson’s Poverty Program. A neighborhood center was set up that would provide services to the citizens of the southeast part of Chillicothe, and two Vista workers began a recreational and study program for children of the area. Churches of the community were contacted and asked to contribute funds to be available to help those in need.
2) In the early 1970’s The Concerned Christians began looking for other opportunities to serve the community. In the spring of 1973 a letter was received for ACTION, a new government agency under the Nixon Administration. The letter indicated that some twenty counties in Missouri would be awarded government funds to start a Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and that any community organization which was non-profit and organized as a corporation could apply. The Concerned Christians Board promptly made application and was notified in July that their application had been accepted and the first RSVP Director was hired. RSVP has federal guidelines that must be followed by the sponsoring organization regarding how funds are to be expended. Reports must also be made detailing and measuring the performance of RSVP volunteers in meeting the community needs.
3) In 1974 Ron Rauch from Northwest Missouri Area Agency on Aging came to Chillicothe to talk to The Concerned Christians board about becoming the sponsor of a congregate meal program in Chillicothe. The first building was Cornerstone Building on Brunswick Street. The first Administrator was hired for this program to begin. The meals were prepared by Queen City Restaurant and transported to the Cornerstone Building. After a few months, the location was moved to the Hunt Building on Webster Street. This was a more central location and it began to be known as the Livingston County Senior Center. The program began to grow, so more space was needed. They moved to corner of Webster and Elm, into the north part of a former furniture store. The next move was to the Larry Boyd Building, on the opposite corner. At this time the gift shop was started.
In July 1977, the Coburn building became available, and for the first time it was possible to have on-site meal preparation. A grant was received for the necessary kitchen equipment, and the move was completed with facilities to serve 80 people, plus space for a pool table, a gift shop and other recreation.
4) During the late 1980s The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. again sponsored Vista workers, who worked on the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. They tied together the Just Say NO Clubs and school drug prevention programs.
5) In 1992 The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc., through RSVP, became the sponsor of the thrift store known as “Threads”, which was to be not only a service to the community, but also a source of local funding for RSVP.
6) In 1993 The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. became the sponsor of the local Widowed Persons Support Group, which continues to be an important support and service program in the community. Since July 2016, they continue to operate but no longer needed the Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. to be their sponsor since they operate without funding.
7) In 1993 The Home Delivered Meal program was implemented as a service offered by the Livingston County Senior Center. This program provided 10 home delivered meals in its first month.
8) In 1995 The Health Services program was implemented as a service offered by the Livingston County Senior Center.
9) In 2002-2004 The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. again sponsored the Vista workers to aid and educate crime victims and the community, which allowed them to do training in schools that would help to prevent anger crimes.
10) In 2007-2009 The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. became the sponsor for Bridgeway to Hope. This program provided transitional housing that helped homeless families become self-supporting, self-reliant contributors to society.
11) In July 2007 through June 2010 The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc., through the Livingston County Senior Center, became the sponsor of the Aging Resource Center, which provided a variety of services for seniors such as exercise classes, medical appointment transportation, free legal advice, help with Medicare Part D comparisons, informative programs for senior citizens, and recreational activities.
12) On September 6, 2007 at The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. board renamed the Livingston County Senior Center to the Grand River Multipurpose Center
13) In July 2010, The Concerned Christians for the Community, Inc. was officially renamed The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc.
14) In 2010, Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. leased the building at the current location of 607 W Business Hwy 36, (formerly Aldi’s) from William Mast to house the Grand River Multipurpose Center. Meals at this time were a suggested voluntary contribution of $3.50 per meal to anyone 60 years and older. In 2017 the suggested voluntary contribution is $4.00 per meal. No one can be denied a meal who is age 60 and over. A donation box is provided, so no one knows who does or does not contribute or the amount that is given by an individual. This meal program is open to all Senior Citizens, rich or poor. The only requirement is that they are registered at our facility and they meet the age requirement. If they are under the age of 60 they must pay full price of the meal and are not able to pay by voluntary contribution into the donation box.
15) In August of 2010, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. became the sponsor SALT (Simply Achieving Life’s Triumphs), which was developed to address the issue of homelessness as it pertains to our rural community. Since then, a shelter has been secured and they regularly help the homeless nightly. They obtained their own 501C3 in May of 2015, and no longer needed the Concerned Citizens of the Community, Inc. to be their sponsor. They continue providing services in our community but now operate on their own under the name of Community Resource Center
16) In November 2011, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. began to sponsor the Grand River Heart Restart, which is a program that works to help prevent death from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in our area. They also help organizations get equipped with on-site AED’s (Automatic External Defibrillator).
17) In December 2011, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. began to sponsor the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department in their efforts to collect donations to adopt families during the Christmas Season.
18) In April 2014, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. began to sponsor the Wheeling Community Center and Museum Building Committee, which was formed to help in building a new Community Center and Museum in Wheeling, Missouri. After the building project is completed it will be donated to the City of Wheeling. This project was completed in December 2016.
19) On September 23, 2015, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. board received a donation of the property located at 440 Locust Street, Chillicothe, MO 64601, from the Senior Citizens of Livingston County Missouri Inc. The RSVP Director’s office, Threads thrift store, Joy Toy Program and Meals on Wheels Coordinator are stationed at this location.
20) In October 2016, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. board purchased the building and property located at, 607 W Business Hwy 36 from William and Mary Beth Mast Trust. The congregate meal and home delivered meal program continues to grow during the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year, 40,762 meals were provided to the program recipients. The daily average was 163 meals. 22,207 recipients ate at the Center and 18,555 home delivered meals were sent out of our Center. This was a 21% increase for home delivered meals from 2015 to 2016. Over the past five years our home delivered meal recipients have increased 54%. There are numerous other activities offered at the center continue to grow as well.
21) In May 2017, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc DBA RSVP, changed their name to DBA 55 & GO with the release of securing funding through the RSVP program and going to locally funded program.
22) In March 2020, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc DBA GRMC closed indoor dining due to COVID restrictions but were able to service in home meals weekly. Our meals prior to closing were 54,000 + annually.
23) In June 2020, The GRMC opened congregate services with no activities for months. The next fiscal year we were down approximately 10,000 + meals annually due to the effects of COVID.
24) In March 2023, The GRMC continues to serve approximately 42000 + meals annually, with projected 43,052 for SFY 2024. GRMC suggested voluntary contribution is $5.00 to anyone 60 years and older. Under 60 guest price is $7.50.
The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. board consists of twelve (12) members who volunteer to serve 2 (two) year terms with no term limits. Board members have varied backgrounds and skills including but not limited to legal, financial, taxation, real estate, customer service, food service. The Officers of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer are elected to serve on an annual basis commencing in July. Meetings are conducted in accordance to Missouri Sunshine Laws and Roberts Rules of Order.
Each program sponsored by The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. board has their own Federal guidelines that must be followed by the sponsoring organization regarding how funds are to be expended.
The role of The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. has been to be the official recipient of federal grant money and to be responsible for the hiring of the Director of the RSVP Programs and the Administrator of the Grand River Multipurpose Center Programs. They have not been responsible for decisions regarding programs in any agency.
As its history indicates, The Concerned Citizens for the Community, Inc. has been a responsible sponsor for the past 50 Years helping to meet Community needs.