Upward Mobility Happening in Columbia!

Upward Mobility Happening in Columbia

We have served 2,105 adults (2,069 children) so far this year, and it is because of community-wide support that many of our program participants learned new skills and tried new things. As one participant said, "My life is finally going up hill because of what my coach taught me."

Surveying Barriers to Employment

Love Columbia provides career coaching to around 150 people each year. In order to best serve them and respond to a community need for a central clearinghouse to host local career training and employment opportunities, we created the Career Next Steps microsite within our online information library.

Next Steps has a career assessment that points users to nine career interest areas and provides first steps toward getting a certificate or apprenticeship in the field.

Next Steps also identifies common barriers to career advancement and provides resources to overcome them. We are currently interviewing unemployed individuals to better understand their challenges and how we can best help them find a job.

View Survey

View Career Next Steps

Upward Mobility Through Extra Mile Coaching

"Financial coaching is the doorway into someone's life. I do this because I have personally experienced the challenges of not having these skills."

Andrea has coached three single mothers through the Extra Mile program and has seen each one make significant strides toward upward mobility. This includes: getting a driver's license to open up more job opportunities, confidence to believe for career advancement, and role modeling financial management skills for their children.

It is amazing what can be accomplished when stress over debt and unpaid bills is eliminated.

Photo: Kelli Van Doren, Extra Mile Manager (left) with Andrea (right)

Reentry Opportunity Center Utilizes Career Microsite

As Program Director of the Reentry Opportunity Center (ROC), D'Markus Thomas Brown says "We are excited to start using Career Next Steps in our employment services."

Lorraine Gustavis is developing Career Next Steps for people to easily find employers, internships, and apprenticeships to further their careers.

Career Coaching Success

Laura is a single mom of four who received career coaching and landed a job as a loan specialist at Veterans United.

Photo: Laura rings the joy bell to celebrate starting her new job!

Families Provide Essentials

Mother's Day Out, a preschool in downtown Columbia, chose Love Columbia as their annual fundraiser recipient.

Their families donated funds and several tubs of essential hygiene items.

When Diana came to the Love Columbia office for a budget coaching appointment, she expressed her need for a winter coat. She found a coat in her size in our Essentials Closet; thank you to those who have donated essential winter items this year!

Help Our Community Garden Reach Its Fundraising Goal!

We are currently at 75% of our garden's $1800 goal. Thank you to those who have supported it! Every penny contributed goes directly to funding the St Joseph Street Community Garden's effort to work with families who are food insecure.

Click below to make a donation to the SeedMoney fundraiser.

Donate Here!

The Love Seat resale store provides a place for shoppers to find quality,

low-cost furniture, housewares and clothing and for Love Columbia program participants to obtain essential items.

The Love Seat Furniture Bank provides free furniture and housewares to families

in crisis or transition.

Store Hours:

Mon - Fri 10:00 - 5:00

Sat 9:00 - 4:00

Donation Times:

Mon - Sat 10:00 - 3:00

For Donation Inquiries/Scheduling Pick-Ups:

Call 573-303-6198

2600 Rangeline St. Columbia, MO 65202

Learn About The Love Seat

We are on a mission to create a beloved community in Columbia.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired us to begin dreaming about this concept nearly 70 years ago. He insisted it would be an outgrowth of love, a love that is creative and redemptive, that builds up and unifies.

Click below to learn about our 3-part Capital Campaign.

Learn About the Campaign

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

This is the ideal that drives Love Columbia. We coordinate relationships and resources to “love people forward” to a higher capacity. We provide coaching to help people improve their finances, employment, and housing, and offer strategic financial assistance and material goods to support their path forward.

• Information and referral

• Assessment and action planning

• Coaching (financial, employment, housing, transportation, life purpose)

• Transitional housing

• Payday loan relief

• Strategic financial assistance

• Basic needs (furniture, clothing & housewares)

Want to Give to Love Columbia?