Driving Change in Southwest Missouri

George the Uber driver never imagined the direction his day would take after picking up a special client from the hospital. She had suffered a seizure and sustained a serious head injury, but the part of her story that broke him was when he discovered that she and her family had also been without food for several days. Moved by their plight, he stopped at McDonald’s to buy them dinner and reached out to his friends for help. One of them directed him to us, the Council of Churches of the Ozarks.

After dropping her off at the motel where they were staying, George offered to pick up food from Crosslines food pantry and deliver it. Pantry staff quickly assembled several items she and her family could use without a stove, and he returned the next day to bring them to her. When we met George, we learned that he was affiliated with Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma, a local service organization. We exchanged information, and he expressed interest in learning more about our services.

George plans to bring his group for a tour of our facilities, and we will have the opportunity to share the full scope of our services with them at a club meeting. The Sertoma Club is planning to volunteer soon!

This story is a testament to the power of kindness and community. It highlights how the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, with the support of compassionate individuals and organizations, continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.