Receive Tax Benefits While Helping a Local Child in Crisis

“Thank you for the shoes. They fit good and feel grate. I was surprised that you fownd them in my size. I can only remember one time of getting a brand new paire of shoes so this was awesome.”

This was a note we received from Evan after providing him with a new pair of shoes. Evan was a 13-year-old in foster care in our area who was living in a residential facility. Due to lack of foster homes, there were no homes available. Evan had a growth spurt. Because there was no money remaining from his meager clothing allowance and since he was living in a facility- Evan had no family to provide new shoes. Poor Evan was wearing shoes that were three sizes too small for him and hurt his feet. At 13 years old Evan could only remember one time he had shoes that weren’t too small.

Can you imagine a more constant reminder that no one loves you than having to wear a pair of shoes that are three sizes to small? Hope Children’s Home has been awarded 70% tax credits by the MO Dept. of Economic Development through their Neighborhood assistance program. The current program is ending soon and there is a goal of selling the remaining tax credits by the end of April. Community support to help change the outcomes for children in foster care and by doing this, we are breaking the cycle of abuse, poverty, and neglect to overall make our entire community a better place; is greatly appreciated.

Evan’s new shoes are just a small example of how your tax credit donation helps a child in our community who is experiencing a time of crisis.

The Petzoldt family on their adoption day. Jody said "Volunteering at Hope Children's Home opened my heart to foster care."

Hope Children’s Home is run by the 501c3 nonprofit organization Hope For One More. It is a foster care support agency in addition to providing the home located here in Jackson, MO. The Board of Directors is made up of Todd Rushing, chairman, Rushing Marine, Dr. Dawn Caruso, Founder and CEO; Dr. Paul Caruso, founder; Danny Johnson, LPC, LCSW and Executive Director at New Vision Counseling Center; Greg Jansen, Columbia Construction and Casework; Georganne Syler, Ret. Southeast Missouri State University; Steve Southard, Southard and Layton; and Donna Litchenegger, MO State Representative.

The mission is to provide a loving and stable family environment for all children in our foster care system by engaging community support. Over the course of the past few years there have been very successful outcomes for children living through very traumatic circumstances every day right here in our very own community.

By contributing to this tax credit program, not only are you helping a local child experiencing a time of crisis, you will receive a tax benefit as well. Instead of paying the money you would ordinarily pay to MO Dept. of Rev for taxes, you can keep that money in your community. When you make a tax credit donation to Hope For One More/Hope Children’s Home, you receive a 70% tax credit as opposed to the 50% most organizations have to offer. That contribution also qualifies as a charitable contribution and can be taken as a federal deduction as well.

Eligible contributors who qualify for this tax credit programs are limited to businesses or individuals with a business income in the state of MO. This includes any business, individuals who operate a sole proprietorship, operate a farm, have rental property or have royalty income, as well as a shareholder in an S-corporation, a partner in a Partnership or a member of a Limited Liability Corporation, insurance companies, and financial institutions.

Neglect causes oral health issues. Normally embarrassed about his teeth, a smile like this is rare and this beaming smile is priceless.

The process for claiming your tax credits is very easy. You just make your tax credit donation and obtain a tax credit application from Hope Children’s Home. Simply fill out and notarize the tax credit application and return it to Hope Children’s Home with proof of your contribution. We will then submit it to the Department of Economic Development who will issue you a tax credit certificate. Eligible donations include cash (check), credit card, and stock donations.

Here’s some of the things that have been accomplished for children in crisis in our community thanks to community support and donations through this tax credit program:

Since 2013, provided a safe home to over 98 children who are in protective custody. Children in foster care often arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Immediately upon arriving in the home, they are given a comfort kit with items they can call their own; within 48 hrs. they have a medical screening, dental screening, and psychological services are set up.

Through the foster care support program for all foster children in our area:

97 foster children have been served at the clothing closet

64 foster families have been provided with beds, baby equipment, and other needed items in order to keep sibling groups together and accommodate emergency placements.

247 infants in foster care have been provided with diapers and wipes

22 foster children have been able participate in extracurricular activities, with necessary fees paid and equipment provided

9 foster children received necessary orthodontic work and other necessary medical equipment not covered by Medicaid or any other source of funding.

177 school aged foster children were provided with backpacks filled with school supplies.

97 foster children received Christmas gifts and helped match up the resources to provide 322 gifts for the foster children’s Christmas Party.

21 Community Events were hosted or participated in to raise awareness and help recruit potential foster families

Items such as shoes and coats were provided for children living in residential who did not have a family or any source of funding to pay for these items.

There were 36 foster families who were recruited and trained, then have gone on to be fully licensed. Plus, an additional 47 foster families were recruited who are in training currently, who will go on to be fully licensed and have two more foster parent training classes are set to begin in June.

To make a tax credit contribution or to set up a tax credit presentation to learn more please contact Crissy Mayberry, Executive Director, Hope Children’s Home 709 E. Main, Jackson, MO 63755 at mayberrycrissy@gmail.com or (573) 204-1558.