Grace Advertising & Consulting, Inc.

4/ TheBucknerClarion.com September 25, 2014 LINC Bridges Gaps The Community's Resource Connection hundred and ninety five students received free school supplies donated through the Community Service League. Supplies included free backpacks, binders, pencils – among other things, for elementary, middle and high school students. Trunk-or-Treat, the Easter egg hunt and Family Fun Night at the Sibley Orchard are among many events that have become a favorite yearly tradition for Buckner residents. A collaborative effort is made between the school, city boards, local churches and the LINC committee who partner to bring quality community events to area families. "We hope to provide opportunities for people to join together as a family and as a community," Fields said. "It is our goal to provide activities to those in our community who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate in enriching activities." LINC also serves as a viable hub of information and resources. The organization is primarily state funded but also partners with large organizations to meet the needs of the families it serves. One example of this is LINC's partnership with the Harvester's food program. Children from low- income families may qualify to bring home a bag with various foods and drinks for the weekend. This effort is made to ensure children, who mainly participate in the free or reduced lunch programs, have nutritious foods available to them while By Jessica Mauzey The Local Investment Commission (LINC) is a citizen-driven community collaborative with the state of Missouri and neighborhood leaders, citizens, businesses, civic and labor leaders to improve the lives of children and families. LINC has a long list of service offerings that include everything from school-age child care and health clinics to parenting classes, elder services, obesity prevention, financial counseling and much more. LINC also serves as a bridge between communities and schools, including the Fort Osage School District. Originally founded in 1992, LINC became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a change that afforded the organization more programming flexibility. According to the LINC website, LINC is described as "a striking example of how a citizen-led community intermediary can successfully coordinate the delivery of child, family and senior support services while forging connections between neighborhoods and government agencies." This opportunity can also be found at the local elementary school, home to the Buckner Caring Communities site. Buckner and Cler-Mont elementary schools were two of LINC's original Caring Community sites. Today, LINC has a presence, through its Caring Communities initiative, at all five Fort Osage elementary schools. Connie Fields has been the Caring Communities site coordinator at Buckner Elementary for four years. Prior to joining the elementary school, Fields had served the LINC organization for 12 years and holds an Associate of Arts Degree with a primary focus on child growth and development from the Metropolitan Community College. Breshears. An active volunteer for more than three years, Breshears took her new position just seven months ago. "I volunteer and try to assist others because I want to make a difference in my town and in the lives of children and families. This isn't a pastime for me, it's being a part of something I feel strongly about," she said. One aspect that sets LINC apart from other organizations is the versatility within the committee. The site council is comprised of volunteers, each with individual talents and capabilities. Some members are parents, community leaders, business owners, or liaisons of other organizations. There are no regulations or criteria to join the group and the meetings are open to anyone. "Everyone has a voice here and everyone's opinions matter," Fields said. Under the leadership of Fields and Breshears, the committee members focus their monthly meetings around the core vision of the organization – a caring community that builds on its strengths to provide meaningful opportunities for children, families and individuals to achieve self- sufficiency, attain their highest potential and contribute to the public good. During meetings, members are encouraged to voice opinions and ideas in a supportive environment. "No idea is too big or too small. We are open to every idea that our members have," Breshears said. Some of LINC's greatest accomplishments began as just a shared thought or idea. One notable accomplishment was LINC's recent Fort Family Fun Day that attracted community members and over 20 local organizations to celebrate Fort Osage families, as they prepared for the new school year. Two Left to Right: Cathy Breshears and Connie Fields school is not in session. Despite the organization's success, Fields and Breshears agree they are constantly facing a hurdle—how to get more people involved. "Everyone is unique and has differences and that's okay," Fields said. "There is nothing we can't accomplish as a community if everyone is working together despite these differences." "The sky is truly the limit," Breshears said. "We want to address all the needs of our community to build on it and make it a better place. This program cannot exist without the people of our community." "We can't meet the needs of others if we don't know what those needs are," Fields added. Planning is well underway for several events, including turkey bingo, the winter carnival and the upcoming family movie night on Thursday, September 25. The organization meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at Buckner Elementary School. Children are always welcome to attend and dinner or snacks are provided. Fields and Breshears invite the community to attend the next meeting on October 7. For more information, contact Fields at 816.650.7309, or visit KCLINC.org. LINC's first Fort Family Fun Day got underway last August.

• Cover