EDITORIAL: Three great ways you can help out

Jan. 23—We've never found Joplin unwilling to help with a great cause. We have great causes — three more ways to help.

Bright Futures JoplinBright Futures Joplin announced Tuesday a fundraiser to purchase shelf-stable milk for its Snack Packs program. Two shelf-stable milks go out with each weekend food bag, along with cereal, granola bars, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, fresh fruit and more.

Bright Futures Joplin Executive Director Amanda Stone said in a statement: "The number of students receiving Snack Packs has been steadily rising since school started. We are now providing them to over 600 food-insecure students each week, which is more than ever. We believe milk needs to be included to help provide nutrition when these students are away from the stability of school meals, but we are struggling to keep up with the cost of shelf-stable milk in this quantity."

According to Stone, the cost to provide milk for the 2023-24 school year will exceed $20,000, or about one-third of the Snack Packs total budget.

Go to brightfuturesjoplin.org and hit the "donate" button, or mail or drop off checks for Bright Futures to the Joplin Schools Memorial Education Center at 825 S. Pearl.

Habitat

Habitat for Humanity is wrapping up a home in Joplin — its 186th — and has another it is working on in Royal Heights and three more for which it is seeking permits.

Scott Clayton, executive director, said they also are partnering with Economic Security Corp. to build a duplex and are looking for a house to rehab in Carthage in partnership with Carthage students.

The group also has made 87 critical home repairs and more than 400 light, exterior repairs for homeowners in need in the region.

Go to www.joplinhabitat.org for ways to donate and volunteer.

Charlie 22 OutdoorsThe Webb City-based group told us last year: "Our mission is clear: to provide outdoor activities to our nation's veterans and their families, with the goal of showing them there is hope, love and a personal meaning in God's grace.

"The PTSD and demons they face are very real. Unfortunately, far too many are succumbing to the battle with those. We provide our events free of charge to those we serve. We cover all expenses including travel, lodging, meals, tags, licenses, etc. Charlie 22 Outdoors was founded, as a result of our passion, to 'serve those who have already served.' "

Coming up is Operation Spring River, a bird hunt in Baxter Springs, Kansas; Operation Steelhead, a fishing trip in Michigan; and Operation Spoonbill at Twin Bridges State Park in Oklahoma.

Learn more about them, and ways you can get involved, at https://charlie22outdoors.com.