A Sock for Every Foot!
If you follow CSL on Facebook, you saw our exciting announcement last week! For a few years, CSL has been a Bombas Giving Partner, and has received about 5,000 pairs of socks annually to distribute through our pantries.

As Bombas's popularity has exploded (they give one pair of socks away for every one purchased), they needed bigger Giving Partners. CSL is in possession of 200,000 pairs of Bombas socks, in a variety of sizes and styles. So, how in the heck are we going to find 200,000 pairs of feet for these socks?! What we have is enough socks for one out of every 10 people in the Kansas City area!

CSL, through our 14 locations in Missouri, can help distribute a lot of socks, but we need help! Are you part of an organization, church, or group that interacts with kids and adults that could benefit from new socks? If so, please check out our page and consider filling out a sock request form. Right now, we are looking for groups that could likely give out 1,000 pairs of socks or more by the end of 2019. We will have an opportunity later this Fall for groups wanting fewer than 1,000. If you are part of a large organization, like a school district, we are asking for only one application per entity.

What can a pair of socks mean to a child in need? It can mean warm, comfortable feet that are free of blisters. For someone in our community that is homeless, a pair of socks can help them avoid frostbite. I'm sure you're like me, and, if nothing else, putting on a nice pair of socks just makes you feel better.

CSL was a logical partner for Bombas to make an impact in the Kansas City area. Because of your support, CSL has a 7,500 square foot central warehouse in Independence, owns a 20-foot box truck, has 14 locations for distribution, and has an army of volunteers mobilized to take on big tasks.

This is the third year in a row that CSL has received a one-time donation of goods worth more than $1,000,000. In 2017, we received all the donated items for Oak Grove and Eastern Jackson County tornado victims, in 2018, we received more than $1,000,000 worth of Hallmark Baby apparel and other goods, and now in 2019, we have more than $1,000,000 worth of socks.

When you support CSL, as you have done so generously, we are mobilized and ready to make a big difference in our community!
60 Barrels in 60 Days!
While school was out for the summer, these last 60 days have been our time to get ready for the next school year! Our team has been hard at work raising support to ensure  2,500 students will have the necessary tools to be successful in the classroom in the Fall Filling backpacks with school supplies, and stocking shelves with brand new shoes is top of mind at several CSL locations.

CSL kicked off our  60 Days of Summer Campaign in June to raise support for our upcoming Back to School Fairs! The response was great, and dozens of our collection barrels were in stores and churches, filled with new supplies and shoes.

It's not too late to make a difference in the life of a child! Interested in making a cash gift for school supplies or tennis shoes? Use this link to help a student right now!
Annual Audit Complete
CSL's Board of Directors has accepted an audit of our 2018 financials. The complete audit includes our annual operation, our complete State of Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Program Tax Credits, and the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards for the Single Audit.

CSL is committed to transparency in our financial and programmatic operations. You can find several years' worth of annual reports, audits, and tax filings on our website.
Program Updates
- Another welding training cohort began last month. Nine soon-to-be welders, pictured to the right, started a 10-week course that will lead them to MIG/TIG welding certificates! Tuition is provided free for this highly-competitive program.

- Another CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training cohort begins in September, and applications are still being accepted. This is in addition to the 11 new CNAs we graduated earlier this year. Since 2016, CSL has graduated nearly 100 welders or CNAs through our Bridges to Career Opportunities initiative.

- At Hawthorne Place Apartments, our team is hyper-focused on helping neighbors obtain better jobs, and many comprise our CNA and welding cohorts. At Hawthorne, neighbors can enroll in HUD's Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which encourages families to improve their income through work. Instead of paying their newly-earned money in rent, they can escrow that into a savings account for higher education, home ownership, or credit repair. We're pleased to tell you that the combined balance of the escrow accounts at Hawthorne is now $118,000!

- Our Farview Food Pantry opened several weeks ago, and now we would like to invite you to an open house! On Saturday, August 17, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., we will celebrate the official grand opening of the Farview Neighborhood Library and Food Pantry. There will be plenty of activities for the whole family, and you can tour the facility and learn how Fort Osage School District, Mid-Continent Public Library, and Community Services League are bringing strong community resources to Northeast Independence!

- Do you sometimes wonder how CSL's services work? We take a deep dive into our programs through our blog stories, and you can always read past news stories!
BlendWell Celebrates Its First Year!
It's hard to believe that CSL's BlendWell Community Cafe has been open a year! BlendWell was CSL's first social enterprise venture, bringing a needed community asset to Northwest Independence. 

If you haven't been to BlendWell, stop by and see us soon at 10725 East US 24 Highway, Independence, MO 64054! We offer a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, and drinks. Our drive-thru opens at 6:30 a.m., and our lobby is open during the weeks until 4:00 p.m. We can accommodate your gathering or meeting, and offer catering, or full cafe rentals.

BlendWell has hosted more than 400 community meetings, gatherings, and events in its first year. We are working hard to be part of the resurgence of the Fairmount area, bring visitors into Northwest Independence, and provide a place for local neighbors to gather, connect, and thrive. BlendWell plays host to job trainings, tax preparation, Financial Coaching, homebuyer education, and much more!

Thanks for your support during our first year... the best is yet to come!
Monthly Giving. Monthly Good. 
The 1916 Club is CSL's monthly giving program that allows supporters to make sustained gifts through monthly credit card charges or checking/savings account withdrawals.

In 1916, a group of 22 forward-thinking women founded CSL as a way to support children and families in need in our community. More than 103 years later, members of the 1916 Club share the same vision and provide monthly support to ensure that the mission of CSL is met every day.

By joining the 1916 Club, you can be assured that you're doing your part to make our Eastern Jackson County community a better place to live by providing resources for families to achieve economic stability.
Events
Presenting its tenth annual event, the Coalition of Women Helping Children is hosting the "Fashion for Compassion" Fashion Show and Brunch on Saturday, August 24th  to benefit CSL's Children's Services.  Only a few seats remain!
Make plans now to attend this fun morning of food, fellowship, and fashion at Adam's Pointe Conference Center in Blue Springs. Donna Pitman of KMBC Channel 9, will serve as this year's emcee and the show will feature community models in the latest fall fashions from Dillard's at Independence Center! We are grateful for the continued support of St. Mary's Medical Center, the Presenting Sponsor for the third year, along with Silver Sponsor CBD American Shaman, Bronze Sponsors Truman Medical Center and Lori & Francis Ross, and Table Sponsors Stewardship Capital, Foster Dental Care, Speaks Family Legacy Chapels and Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. 

Sponsorship and Ticket Information
Fore! The sixth annual CSL Golf Classic is filling quickly! Make plans now to break out your clubs on  Monday, September 23rd  at   Winterstone Golf Course in Independence for a fantastic day at the links supporting your neighbors in need. The tournament features a scramble format, with separate flights and contests for women and men, a full breakfast and a delicious lunch. Sign up today for what promises to be a spectacular day!

We are grateful to Central Bank of the Midwest for supporting the Golf Classic as the Presenting Sponsor for the third consecutive year.  Thank you also to St. Mary's Medical Center , Platinum Sponsor, CBD American Shaman , Gold Sponsor, Pathways to Reading/Dennis Clinefelter , Silver Sponsor and Bronze Sponsors Edward Jones Investments, H. Ross Morrison, D.D.S.,P.C., and JE Dunn . It's not too late to be a sponsor.  There are opportunities both with and without teams.  Check them out today!
Luminous - lighting pathways to change, presented by Edward Jones, is slated for Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Plaza. Plan now to join us for a magical night celebrating Community Services League. Emceed by Kris Ketz, KMBC9, the evening includes a delicious dinner, drinks, an exclusive Live Auction and dancing to the sounds of Lost Wax.

Sponsorship and ticket information now available. 
Interested in sponsoring a specific event in 2019, or supporting CSL throughout the year? Contact us today for a customized sponsorship package.

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