The butler county community resource council (BCCRC) seeks to expand the rsvp program into carter county, MO: van buren, elsinore, grandin and fremont

The butler county community resource council exists to promote coordination and cooperation between social services providers, churches, business communities and the educational system, in order to empower families and individuals to become more self-reliant, responsible and resourceful. The BCCRC has overseen the butler county rsvp program which began in 1973 and has continued to meet community needs in butler county, MO. One hundred and twenty volunteers serve low income families, seniors and veterans in ten work stations. The primary focus area is healthy futures. Other focus areas include economic opportunities and other community priorities. Rsvp volunteers serve at 10 work stations and meet needs within the community which include access to care, aging in place, obesity and food and financial literacy. This cncs grant will enable the BCCRC to meet the needs through expansion into carter county which will include economic opportunities (financial literacy); obesity and food (increased food security); and environmental stewardship (improving parks and riverways). The main focus area will be environmental stewardship. At the end of the 36-month performance period 250 individuals will receive free tax consultation and preparation and the estimated dollar value of tax refunds generated will be $150,000. Approximately 75% of individuals/families served will report increased food security; and 10-15 miles of river way as part of the ozark national scenic riverway will be cared for and cleaned up twice a year (spring and fall) . The CNS federal investment of $75,000 will be supplemented by $22,500 of non-federal resources which will include in kind donations and local funding.