MARCH/APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER

A NOTE FROM BRYAN

Wow, can you believe the month of March is already here? Someone recently told me this, “the days are long, but the years are short.” That is so true. It’s hard to believe we are in our 16th year of ministry here with Elevate Branson, it seems like just yesterday it all began. Time sure does fly, but we still have a lot of work to do for our community and for our neighbors.   

Speaking of that, January and February flew by with the start of Elevate Work, Elevate Entrepreneurs, Computer and Financial Literacy classes, along with kiddos coming back for Elevate Kids. We had lots of activity on the Elevate Campus in January and February. We had the honor to close out the month of January with a community wide prayer event and we are looking to see how God will show up in 2024. We continue to see BIG life changes through the programs and services of Elevate Branson. Read on for all the exciting upcoming news.

Bryan Stallings

Founder, Elevate Branson

ELEVATE THRIFT STORE

Did you know that Elevate Thrift Store provides almost 20% of our annual operating revenue? When you donate gently used items or shop for unique treasures, you are making an impact on our bottom line. You’re making an impact on our programs and services for our neighbors in need. Elevate Thrift Store revenue helps support our outreach efforts, employment training, children’s programs and so much more. No matter how big or how small, every dollar spent in our store stays in this community, helping the working poor and struggling families who just need a little help to lift themselves up and out of poverty for good. But it is also much more than just another second-hand shop. 

Elevate Thrift Store provides hope and opportunity for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, or both. Students in Elevate Work have the chance to gain real, hands-on work experience in a retail environment. Volunteers in the organization’s rewards program can use credits they earn to buy the items they need at the store’s great low prices. And shoppers of all kinds find unique treasures and remarkable values while empowering our neighbors to reach their full potential.

ELEVATE COFFEE

Things are changing at Neighbors HUB and Elevate Café/Elevate Coffee. We are re-vamping the menu options for Elevate Café and hope to have new and exciting selections soon. In the meantime, you can still get great food for a great cause at Elevate Coffee with daily lunch specials every Monday-Friday in the month of March. And if you want to enjoy the coffee that lifts you up at work we now have monthly coffee subscriptions available with free delivery in the Branson/Hollister area. Now you can get our handcrafted grounds, beans, or K-Cups and elevate our community with each brew. Various flavors, sizes, and subscription levels are available so you can craft our quality coffee at home or in the office at your convenience. Enjoy our craft coffee at your place of employment and drink with full confidence that with each pour, you’re empowering our neighbors with the resources they need to thrive in our local community. Contact us today to start your Elevate Coffee subscription at 417.335.9915 or Info@ElevateBranson.org.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Cyndi DeWitt. Cyndi is a retired biblical counselor from a Christian recovery program in Memphis Tennessee. She counseled women who experienced addiction, abuse, imprisonment, and prostitution. One of her many responsibilities was to help get women job-ready to attempt to gain meaningful employment. After retiring, Cyndi still wanted to pour into women facing the same challenges. She found out about our Elevate Work program and has been an outstanding mentor for 5 classes. Not only has she poured into her students, she has been a fantastic organizer and communicator. She is currently the Mentor Coordinator, helping ensure communication with all of the mentors. We are so thankful for the many talents and experience that Cyndi brings to our campus. We are looking forward to seeing the transformational love that she shares with her students and our staff. In reflecting on life circumstances, Cyndi commented, “Elevate Branson is just where the Lord wants me to serve at this time in my life.” Thank you, Cyndi!

COMMUNITY PRAYER EVENT

In January, we held our first Community Prayer Event. What is a community prayer event you ask? It was just that. A gathering of individuals in the community came together and prayed for different segments of our community such as our local police department, fire fighters, our local churches, and many more. We know God has the power to transform these segments for the betterment of our community at large. 2023 was a tough year for many of our neighbors and we want to change that for 2024. We showed a video of how God has done that for other communities around the world. In the video we showed, one of the communities, Cali, Columbia, experienced a radical transformation. In 1995, the drug cartels were at their peak. There were murders and crime daily, up to 15 murders a day. They held a prayer event similar to what we are beginning here in Branson but on a much larger scale. 60,000 Cali citizens joined in unity for an all-night prayer session in a soccer stadium.

48 hours later the daily newspaper headlined no homicides. It was the first time anyone could remember where Cali had gone an entire weekend with no murders. 10 days later the first drug lord fell. God had taken back Cali. For 2024, we are going host these prayer events every 90 days with our next being Friday, April 26th, July 26th and October 25th, 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. All are welcome to join us.

ELEVATE COMMUNITY TIMELINE

A lot of people have been asking, “why haven’t we started on the tiny homes yet?" I wanted to share the timeline, challenges and roadblocks we have encountered in trying to make this happen. There are a lot of moving pieces to a project this size, which means there can be more obstacles to overcome but rest assured it’s still moving forward.

December 2020

Awarded a $1 million dollar grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLBDM) for the construction of 24 tiny homes.

May 2021

Awarded a $1.9 million dollar grant from the state of Missouri and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the infrastructure (Water, Sewer, Roads, etc.).

June - November 2021

As part of the grant process, we had to have an environmental review which resulted in an endangered bat finding causing us to remove trees that the endangered bats could potentially roost in. The Osage Indian Tribe also requested a cultural review which is essentially an artifact dig and report on the findings.

February 2022

Because of the nature of the CDBG grant all procurement including an engineer has to go through the City of Branson process. There was a significant delay in the selection of the engineering firm, up to 9 months, due to city elections and turn-over of city staff. 

March - July 2022

Engineering discovered Elevate Branson needed to cross the adjacent property to the east for a gravity fed sewer. This would significantly reduce expenses versus putting in a lift station sewer. The owners of the property were not willing to grant an easement but were willing to sell Elevate Branson the adjacent 10-acre parcel.

August 2022

Engineering resumed after the purchase of the adjacent property was completed.

November 2022

We then experienced a 45-day engineering delay due to new City of Branson Planning & Zoning staff needing the City of Branson attorney to review the plans to make sure everything was in code compliance.

March 2023

Awarded $1million dollar American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Grant for the construction of 18 additional house.

April 2023

Due to acquiring the adjacent 10-acre parcel, an environmental review addendum was required by CDBG. 

May 2023

Completed engineering plans for the public portion of CDBG funding area and submitted to the City of Branson.

June 2023

Public plans were approved by City of Branson and Submitted to CDBG for approval.

July 2023

Environmental review addendum 98% completed but needing the Corps of Engineers approval because of a water way located on the 10-acre parcel.

August 2023

Received approval from Corps of Engineers.

September 2023

Mayor signs amended environmental review resolution. Project approved by CDBG to go out for bid. Received request from Osage Indian Tribe for an additional cultural review and artifact dig for the 10-acre parcel. Bid put on hold.

October 2023

Cultural review and artifact dig goes out for bid. Private infrastructure plans are now completed.

November 2023

Cultural review and artifact dig vendor is selected.

December 2023

CDBG approves the vendor for the cultural review and artifact dig.

January 2024

Results from Cultural Review and Artifact Dig are received.

February 2024

CDBG approves the Cultural Review report. The Osage Indian Tribe has 30-days to review and comment on the cultural review results.

This is where we are now. What still has to take place? The project has to go out for bid once CDBG approves the bid documents after the 30-day window for the Osage Indian Tribe expires. Assuming there is a bidder, the contract has to be written and approved by the Board of Aldermen. The contractor has to mobilize and schedule equipment for the construction. Construction is estimated to take 4-6 months. We can then begin to set houses. Then we celebrate!

STAFF BOOK READING

Our staff is constantly being challenged to read a book together and discuss the impact of that book. We believe leaders are readers and can always be growing in our knowledge. Our current book is The Power of a Humble Life. 

“This book examines what I consider one of life's greatest paradox, that strength is found in humility. The problem is, humility does not come naturally to us. As we grow up, we find that pride is ingrained in our very being as we seek to prove to the world that our lives matter. We want to stand out in the crowd. Very few of us want to be completely out of the limelight with a sense that his or her life is not important. One of the most important truths I have learned over the course of my life is that we are responsible for seeking a humble life and cultivating a humble heart. We must therefore realize that humility is a choice that we must first make, and then pursue."

- Richard E. Simmons III

When you think about it, humility is quite a conundrum. If you were to tell someone that you are a humble person, in essence, you are no longer humble but prideful. It has been a great read for our staff so far. Pick it up and join with us in reading it. 

STORY OF IMPACT

Jennifer took our Elevate Work class while enrolled in the Standing by The Door program. Here is what she had to say about her experience:

“The Elevate Work program has been an absolute game-changer for me, and I can confidently say that it played a pivotal role in clarifying the career I wanted, but also in boosting my self-confidence beyond measure. The program's unwavering support and encouragement transformed how I perceived myself, empowering me to see a potential in me that I hadn't realized before. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to acquire new skills. 

Through their classes on Word and Excel, I gained practical computer skills that I now use daily in my current role as an intake supervisor for a sober living program, Standing by The Door. These skills have not only enhanced my job performance but have also allowed me to assist and inspire others to take these classes themselves. I share with them the wealth of knowledge I gained firsthand, emphasizing that it's not just about acquiring technical skills; it's about the people, the support, the guidance, and the chance to apply what you learn and receive constructive feedback.

Moreover, the program introduced me to the concept of building and continuously revising an action plan. This tool has proven invaluable in my daily work. It enables me to set clear goals, track my progress, and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring that I remain effective in all my long and short-term goals. What truly sets the Elevate Work program apart is its foundation in faith. Placing God at the core of everything touched my heart profoundly. It provided me with a solid spiritual foundation that allowed me to see myself the way God does, which, in turn, bolstered my self-esteem. Believing in myself as a reflection of God's love has given me the confidence to continue striving for a better future for myself, my family, and my community.

In conclusion, the Elevate Work program has not only equipped me with practical skills but has also instilled in me the self-confidence and faith-based foundation I needed to realize my full potential. Elevate Work program emphasizes the importance of a strong work ethic, drawing from God's perspective, which highlights the value of dedication, diligence, and a commitment to excellence in all endeavors. This reinforces the idea that our work is not just for our own benefit but is also a way to honor God and contribute positively to the world around us.

I am forever grateful for the support, guidance, and opportunities it provided, and I look forward to paying it forward by helping others discover their own potential and achieve their goals." – Jennifer

Your donation of time, talent and finances helps us provide these programs to all the Jennifers in our community that just need someone to come alongside them and to tell them “You Can Do It!"

REAL COMPASSION. REAL RESULTS.

Your charity can do more than help a person get by. Your charity can help individuals, families, and communities flourish.

Join us and our friends at the True Charity Summit, an annual conference for charity practitioners. Church and nonprofit leaders nationwide will connect to learn best practices for effective, empowering charity.

With sessions on innovative charity models, outcomes measurement, program design, and volunteerism and fundraising, there’s something for everyone involved in poverty alleviation.

Here is a sample of the sessions you can look forward to at the Summit:

• Trauma-Informed Care Intensive
• Outcomes Workshop
• How-to sessions for empowering models, like Social Enterprise and Healthy Benevolence Programs
• Building Your Ministry’s Case for Support

Learn More And Register

Swing by on your morning commute or stop in for a mid-day pick-me-up! Elevate Coffee provides hand crafted espresso based drinks, refreshing smoothies, and delicious desserts. Now featuring daily lunch specials!

March Hours

Monday - Friday: 7:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.

Open For Business!

Come find a treasure while helping our neighbors and community prosper! All purchases support the programs at Elevate Branson.

Hours

Monday – Friday: 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Saturday: 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Get Involved And Make A Difference!

Call 417.335.9915 or email Info@ElevateBranson.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities where your time and talents can empower others to reach their full potential.