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CSL Hosting Luminous, presented by
Edward Jones, on November 9th at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza!
 Thanks to presenting sponsor, Edward Jones, and many generous businesses and supporters, CSL will again host its annual gala, Luminous, on November 9th.
This year's event is expected to draw close to 550 attendees, who get an in-depth look at how their support is making meaningful and last change in our neighbors' lives.
To learn more about this event, visit our Luminous website. If you're unable to attend, please consider making a gift to show your support for CSL's work!
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In Case You Missed It: CSL Announced Major Housing Expansion
Community Services League (CSL) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of an additional $390,000 in United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) funding to help kids, families, and single adults find permanent and stable housing. With this new funding, CSL will now receive more than $1,060,000 annually from HUD.
The expansion is a direct result of CSL's outstanding work in administering other HUD program dollars that has led to positive outcomes in our community. CSL began administering Permanent Supportive Housing in 2011, and following grant competitions in 2015 and 2017, was awarded additional program dollars. Annually, HUD provides a framework for a local competition to ensure taxpayer dollars are making an impact, and CSL's expansion is a result of continued, outstanding scores in the annual competitions. CSL has excelled at keeping kids, families, and single adults stably housed, helping them improve their earned and unearned (public and private supports) income, and connecting participants to other vital community resources, like mental and physical health.
Read the rest of the announcement on our website...
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The Creed family, who was homeless following Hurricane Katrina, was one of CSL's first families in Permanent Supportive Housing, and they've remained stably housed since 2012.
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It's Not Too Early to Think About Christmas!
Annually, CSL provides more than 10,000 gifts to local children. In addition to brand new toys, we provide socks, underwear, other clothing, books, blankets, and puzzles. We also want every family to enjoy a great Christmas meal, so we provide 2,500 meal boxes to families that contain a turkey, ham, or chicken, along with potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, fruit, and dessert.
This is a huge, community-wide effort, and we need your help! We need your help so that we have at least 100 collections at churches, businesses, schools, neighborhoods, or civic organizations. For CSL to deliver 10,000 presents and 2,500 meal baskets on time, we need collections wrapped up and proceeds being delivered back to your local CSL office the first week of December. Here's a rough timeline:
October
-
collection partners finalize plans to host a Christmas drive, and
CSL supports those drives by providing collateral material, collection barrels, and gift tags
November
- collections run the entire month
December
- items collected are delivered to CSL no later than December 6
To give you an example, our friends (and neighbors on the Independence Square) at the 1859 Jail Museum are offering free admission later this year, in exchange for a new toy donated to CSL. Collection drives can be fun and interactive, and are most effective when they are well-organized and promoted.
We are asking you to commit, today, as a Christmas Collection Partner
, and show your support in making Christmas the most wonderful time of the year!
We know your greatest joy during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons is to find ways to support others. Please join us in being a 2019 Christmas Collection Partner
by
filling out this form
. We promise it will bring you and your company, church, neighborhood, family, school, or civic organization great joy!
Contact CSL's Special Events Assistant, Sharon Wingate, at (816) 491-2015 or via email at
wingates@cslcares.org
for more information.
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BSSD Helps CSL 64,000 Times!
Annually, Community Unity Week is celebrated in the Blue Springs School District, and the celebration culminates in the Blue Springs-Blue Springs South football game.
During Community Unity Week, all BSSD schools collect food and personal hygiene items. This year, a new collection record was set with 64,458 items collected! CSL extends its thanks to the students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and patrons of the BSSD.
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Sock Distribution Success
As mentioned over the last few months, CSL, thanks to the generosity of Bombas, is distributing 200,000 pairs of socks throughout the Kansas City area.
In August and September, we gave 110,000 pairs of socks to partner agencies and school districts that will give them to kids and adults in need. The socks went south (Olathe Public Schools), north (Park Hill School District), west (Kansas City, Kansas), east (Odessa), in the heart of KCMO to many agencies, and, of course, to dozens of agencies and school districts in Eastern Jackson County.
We are turning our attention for the remainder of 2019 to organizations that help the homeless and those at-risk of homelessness, and organizations that can provide socks as a Christmas gift. Can you help us? If so,
please fill out this request form. In mid- to late-October, we'll have another pick-up time for partners that are selected to help.
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CSL Recognized by LISC!
Annually, Greater Kansas City LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) hosts its "Thrive" event. Thrive celebrates the best in Kansas City community development and
honors those working towards making our neighborhoods better, safer, and healthier places to live and thrive. CSL is thrilled to be named the 2019 "Organization with Greatest Impact." We will receive the award at Thrive on November 15, 2019.
CSL participates as one of LISC's five Kansas City area Financial Opportunity Centers and we deliver the highly-successful programming called Bridges to Career Opportunities. We are grateful for LISC's partnership and their recognition!
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CSL Program Updates
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) recently made awards for Housing Counseling services. CSL has been a HUD-certified Housing Counseling agency for years, and receives an annual financial award to support this work. CSL, because we are listed on HUD's website as a Housing Counseling agency, receives calls about housing issues from all over our region. Whether it's a quick call or email, or someone involved in a long-term housing counseling relationship, perhaps for homeownership education, CSL is there to help our neighbors navigate difficult questions around housing.
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CSL's BlendWell Community Cafe - The Perfect Place for Your Holiday Gathering!
 Fall and Winter are festive times to gather with friends, family, and colleagues. We all know how quickly the calendar fills up with events. This year, make it easy on yourself, and host your event at
CSL's BlendWell Community Cafe!
We have lots of experience with baby showers, Christmas parties, company holiday/year-end gatherings, family events, etc. If you're interested in using BlendWell for a gathering place, please contact Ana at reyesa@cslcares.org, and she'll work with you to create the perfect event, and will make sure you get your date on the calendar.
 We can provide food for your event, or you can bring in your own food and we'll charge a reasonable room rental fee. Whether your event is 15 people or 150, we can work with you to make it great. Plus, your event provides revenue to CSL that will help support meaningful and lasting change for our neighbors assisted by our programs and services!
Coming up this month, CSL is hosting a Halloween party on Saturday, October 26.
Learn more about this event and join us for great family-friendly fun!
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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.
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Central Bank of the Midwest, Presenting Sponsor
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After a rainy weekend, beautiful fall weather greeted a sold-out field for the sixth annual
CSL Golf Classic
on Monday, September 23rd at
Winterstone Golf Course
. Golfers enjoyed a fantastic day at the links supporting Community Services League and raising more than $33,000! The tournament featured a scramble format, with separate flights and contests for women and men, a full breakfast compliments of Sandy's Restaurant, Blue Springs, a delicious grilled lunch, beverages compliments of County Beverage and Pepsi and a fun raffle that included a "Barrel of Booze" from Happy Hour Wine and Spirits.
Thank you to:
Central Bank of the Midwest,
Presenting Sponsor for the third consecutive year; Platinum Sponsor,
St. Mary's Medical Center;
Gold Sponsors CBD American Shaman, Comcast, and Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal; Silver Sponsor
Pathways to Reading/Dennis Clinefelter;
and Bronze Sponsors
Edward Jones Investments, H. Ross Morrison, D.D.S.,P.C., Academy Mortgage, Grant and Kimberly Cowan, Craig and Jenell Brandon, Independence Firefighters Local #781, Independence Fraternal Order of Police, NetMotion Software, and
JE Dunn
.
Check out pictures from this awesome day!
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The Kansas City Metro Men's Chorus - a choral group of men who serve God through singing, will present a special concert benefiting CSL's Oak Grove office on
Sunday afternoon, October 13th, 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Oak Grove. Both inspiring and entertaining, the KCMMC has been singing for great causes since 2001! There is no admittance fee; a free-will offering will be taken.
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Luminous - lighting pathways to change, presented by Edward Jones, is is only five weeks away on 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.
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 Make plans now to kick off the holidays on Sunday, December 8th at one of two annual community concerts benefiting CSL!
The 34th annual Independence Mayor's Christmas Concert, presented by Centerpoint Medical Center, features Independence fourth graders in a huge community choir, the Van Horn High School Concert Choir, the Music Arts Institute MAIster Singers and the Spirit of Independence Band at the Community of Christ Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. No admission fee; a free-will offering is taken.
The 21st annual Blue Springs Spirit of Caring Concert, presented by St. Mary's Medical Center and the Blue Springs School District, will be held at 2
:00 p.m.
at the
Barbara Landes Performing Arts Center
at
Blue Springs South High School.
Featuring a holiday potpourri of local entertainment including Blue Springs elementary school choirs, soloists, ensembles, bands and much more; it is sure to get you in the holiday spirit!
Admission is $5 at the door.
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