Approximately 100 runners turned out Saturday in support of the Show-Me Christian Youth Home Restoration Run 5K hosted at Clover Dell Park. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the home that offers alternate versus state care for youth.
Kim Case, an advocate with Show-Me, said Saturday at the park that the home is expanding this year. She added that they are also trying to raise awareness and help others understand what the home does to help youth in Missouri.
“Show-Me Christian Youth Home is an alternative to state care,” she said. “We offer a home, and a family, school, sports opportunities, and some leadership programs that really help to restore these young lives. (Youth) that have come from a variety of different places, whether their families aren’t able to care for them or the parents are incarcerated or there’s been an illness or sickness in the home that makes the parents unable to care for them. Then, we offer that service and raise them all the way through.”
The home, based in La Monte with additional campuses in Barnett, Galt and Mayview, houses both young men and women with a total of 56 at present.
Show-Me Director Chad Puckett said the fundraising 5K was organized this year by Belinda Smith and he was excited that two of the campuses will be seeing new buildings soon.
“We are about at capacity,” he said of the homes. “We are getting ready to build an additional house at the Barnett unit. Actually our groundbreaking is two weeks from (Sunday). So, that’s our next adventure, a house there. Then we plan to add three more houses at the La Monte site as soon as we get it funded.”
He noted that Saturday’s 5K was for fundraising purposes, but it was also to raise awareness.
“Especially for our 50th anniversary, we wanted to just do some new things,” he added.
“We are launching into the future, it’s really exciting,” Case added.
Throughout the year Show-Me will have several 50th Anniversary events including open houses at different unit sites, a Restoration Gala in Warrensburg in September, and a Fall Fun Fest Barn Dance at the La Monte site in October.
Show-Me Christian Youth Home’s main site is located at 24302 Mahin Rd., in La Monte. For more information call 347-5982 or visit www.showmehelpingkids.org.
