I have occassionally donated items for clients and the Missouri Girls Town Thrift Store. I believe the treatment the girls receive from this organization is among the best in the state.
For two years,I've been priviledged to meet monthly with MGT residents and helped establish an on-campus Juniorette Club as a youth club of the sponsoring General Federation of Women's Club (GFWC) - Tuesday Club of MO. Juniorette Clubs are sponsored on Sr. & Jr. High School campuses across the country but the Club at MGT is unique because all of the resident girls are State referred from severely neglectful or abusive homes. To be part of a skilled, professional and caring service to such a special population of young women is both daunting and inspiring. Each month I personally witness the impact of consistent caring and counseling by skilled staff, administrators and committed volunteers in restoring self-esteem and self-determination in the girls. The Juniorette Club specifically targets leadership development and volunteer service as tools for self determination and personal development. It has been amazing to see these wounded young women learn to enjoy serving the needs of others and heal themselves through this service. Specific projects, selected by group consensus, have included: community civic beautification; serving at a local soup kitchen; writing valentine cards for people in Armed Service; hosting a campus Career Day and planning a campus-wide celebration for graduating Seniors. The leadership roles rotate monthly so that each girl can benefit from serving and from receiving critiques from peers. Most importantly, it is a privilege to be part of an organization that prioritizes the worth of every individual person, especially young abused or neglected women, and devotes itself to preparing them for useful, fulfilling lives. When I came to MO three years ago, after many years in volunteer service to women's organizations, I only wanted to work with a group that valued diversity and personal potential of young people. I'm so pleased and proud of GFWC's founding and dedicated support of the awesome work at Missouri Girls Town -- changing thousands of lives since 1959.
I am greatly impressed by the care, devotion, and guidance of the staff of Missouri Girls Town for the girls of woefully degrading personal backgrounds. My first encounter with MGT was their Oct.'09 campus open house and luncheon. As I listened to the scope of activities and support that has developed over the years, I noticed the closeness of girls to staff. I heard remarks of appreciation from graduates who credited MGT with the
From the moment I walked on the campus of Missouri Girls Town, the environment captured the essence of beauty of mind, soul, and body for young women who have come from challenging childhoods. Though I have attended events at Missouri Girls Town before, the volunteer experience of their General Federation of Women's Clubs -Calloway Juniorette Club's Career Day was truly inspiring as the young women showed deft talent in preparing, presenting, and debriefing an extraordinary Career Day event for the residents. Conversing with residents after the event, I was humbled by their heart wrenching experiences that brought them to Missouri Girls Town and the phenomenal transformation I witnessed from the extraordinary mentoring accomplished by the faculty, staff and volunteers who interact with the residents. Kudos to all who serve Missouri Girls Town!