2022-2023 Focus on Oak Grove City Guide Page 41 ServiceCommunity Services League Oak Grove Community Servi es League acts as a solid support system for low-income families in Oak Grove. CSL offers a variety of services to meet the needs of the community, including assistance with food, clothing, utilities, rent, transportation, employment and medical needs. To qualify for services, a family must meet certain federal government poverty guidelines. Amanda Doss is site manager and works with the community to raise funds and bring in donations, particularly at times of high need. During the summer, CSL requests kid-friendly food; such as, ravioli, canned fruit, kids’ cereal, individual packages of applesauce, peanut butter and jelly. Barrels are distributed throughout the community in July to collect school supplies. The CSL clothes closet is housed at Grace Baptist Church, 600 SW Maple Ln. Vouchers can be obtained through CSL. Grace Garments is open the same days and hours as CSL. Children in the Oak Grove School District may obtain back to school supplies at an event held Wednesday, August 17 at CSL; pre-registration is in July. Donations of gift cards can be given to families throughout the year as well as at the annual Christmas Store. As needs arise, they are placed on CSL Oak Grove Facebook page. Around 12 volunteers help at the Oak Grove location on a weekly basis. Christmas tags with cards containing specific age-appropriate gifts for children in CSL families are placed throughout the community in churches and at the Walmart eye center in November as they gather items for the Christmas store. Families also receive a Christmas dinner. In addition, the Mayor’s Christmas tree fund raises money earmarked for CSL programs. CSL receives food items from Harvesters. Church groups, Masons and grocery stores in the area make weekly/monthly donations of food and other items for CSL clients. CSL provides job-seeking support to individuals through the Work Express program along with career coaching, resume tips, networking and interviewing skills, and online job searches. A variety of classes are available through Work Express at the Independence facility, including classes in job readiness, computers and budgeting. Bess Truman, wife of former President Harry Truman, was a charter member of CSL which began in Independence as a Christian Bible study project in 1916, and, at the time, its main focus was providing food, coal and hay for those less fortunate. Today, the organization remains true to the purpose of making meaningful and lasting change in the lives of those they serve. CSL has six locations in eastern Jackson County. Oak Grove CSL is located at 1408 SE Austin St., and is open from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Donations are accepted during those hours. The center phone is (816) 690-8213. AMANDA DOSS, LEFT, spoke to members of the Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon held at the KOA Campgrounds November 2021 along with Dana Webb, Oak Grove mayor.
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