Volunteer Opportunities: Clean Local Parks, Help Cheer at Special Olympics

Also, volunteer to help with the City of St. Peters Race to Recycling or with the Walk n' Roll at Busch Stadium.

Help Local Storm Victims:  United Way: The United Way also has signup opportunities on its disaster website. To signup through the United Way so so here: http://www.unitedwaystlcares.org/stormrecovery. O'Fallon's 13th Annual Youth Service Week Organizations, schools, churches, scouts, and other youth groups are invited to participate in projects that impact the community from April 22-27. Projects may include mulching trees and beds in O'Fallon parks, flower planting, painting street signs, spreading playground surfacing fibers or other spring goals. Recycle City Open House/Race to Recycling Duathlon & 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run  St. Peters hosts an open house along with a run and other events on April 27. Volunteer to help guide Recycle City …

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No Hunger Holiday Collects Turkeys for Thanksgiving

Drop off a frozen turkey at the Cottleville Knights of Columbus Hall this weekend.

This year, about 2,000 families across St. Charles County will receive groceries for a Thanksgiving dinner.  No Hunger Holiday, a nonprofit organization, has been coordinating donations and delivery of dinners since 1990. Organization volunteers work with 30 other agencies to identify families in need. Those families receive a food basket with the right amount of food for their needs.  "You wouldn't believe in a city of St. Charles in a county of this size, we'd have this need to help these families, but we do," said John Callahan, an O'Fallon volunteer with the group. The group relies on donations and the biggest need is for frozen turkeys. Students at local high schools, including Fort Zumwalt South, Fort Zumwalt North, Wentzville Holt …

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Jim Frain

10:42 am on Friday, November 16, 2012

John Callahan represents the "Finest in O'Fallon"...His dedication to No Hunger Holiday is one of his passions....These are the stories that best represent our wonderful city and it's great residents....Thanks John!   more ›

Real Mom of O'Fallon

Christmas is a Time to Give

Real Mom of O'Fallon shares ways to teach your children to give back this holiday season.

Christmas is coming and coming quick! With less than two weeks until jolly St. Nick arrives bearing gifts galore, it’s time to get busy.  Most of us have shopping, wrapping, baking and cleaning on our “to-do” lists.  Well, I’m going to suggest that we all add another item to that list: Give back.  This time of year makes me realize just how fortunate my family is. We have a house, food on the table and the ability to provide a nice Christmas for our children.  I know there are many families struggling this year and I want my children to understand that not every child will have the same kind of Christmas that they will have. I also want my children to understand that Christmas isn’t just about getting presents, but it is also a time to …

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Thomas J. Stein

3:20 pm on Friday, December 16, 2011

Now, that's an excellent idea of helping families that are less fortunate. They could use all the help in the world. Great article, Trish.   more ›

Fort Zumwalt Students, Staff Lend Helping Hands For the Holidays

Check out how students of all ages are giving back through holiday collections and drives sponsored by their schools.

See how students and staff in the Fort Zumwalt School District are giving back this holiday season.  Dardenne Elementary’s faculty staff and students are participating in a giving tree program. The donations are going to St. Joaquim and Ann Church as part of their adopt a family program. This collections ends on Dec. 8.  Ostmann Elementary's student council ran a canned food drive in November and collected over 2,400 non-perishable goods to donate to HOPE Ministries in time for Thanksgiving.  "We have done these things every holiday season since we opened our school in 2002.  It helps our students to really internalize the true meaning of altruism, responsibility and act of giving by actually 'doing,'" said Dr. Gregg S. Sartorius, …

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Jordan Lanham

1:06 pm on Thursday, December 8, 2011

Emge Elementary School is also participating in a toy drive and mitten tree for the Salvation Army. Principal Alex Tripamer said students have generously donated hundreds of toys and lots of mittens, scarves and hats for others. This is the 10th year Emge has conducted this drive Principal Tripamer said it grows bigger and better each year.   more ›

'Tis the Season: Opportunities to Give Back in St. Charles County

While it’s important to give thanks for all we’ve been blessed with this year it’s just as important to remember what this day is really about – ThanksGIVING.

With radio stations blaring early Christmas tunes, it’s easy to forget about Thanksgiving and it’s even easier to forget about the more than 36 million Americans who will go hungry during this day of feasting. Take some time out of your elaborate turkey dinner to give the second part of this holiday’s name its purpose. 2 Rivers Church, Operation Food Search and Duello Elementary School O'Fallon's Cornucopia of Care Food Drive Hunger Never Takes a Holiday  Zion Lutheran Church Harvester Christian Church with The Salvation Army No Hunger Holiday Incredible Edible Tree  Calvary Church Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration Lake Saint Louis Police Officers Association Mission One H.O.P.E. Ministry, Operation Food Search and St. Louis Food …

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Keeping the Faith

A Look at the Importance of Giving

The way you handle your money is a barometer that measures your commitment to yourself and others.

You've all heard the old platitude "It's better to give than to receive" many times.  And honestly, I've never heard one person deny this statement or argue its validity, but I still suspect we don't mean it all the time.  I'll confess; I like to receive.  I really like to receive. And I admit that sometimes giving – sacrificing my own resources for the sake of others – doesn't appeal either.  Often, when I buy a gift for someone, this idea runs through my head: "Hmmm, there goes XX hours of work."  What a selfish thought!  When this happens, I've got to catch myself and be reminded of a simple truth. Either you control your money–or your money controls you. Now, I'm not here to preach that money is the root of all evil; it's actually …

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