SEMO Fund

A kinship placement is needing assistance with an electric bill to continue keeping placement of three children. She is a single parent home with 3 foster youth and a child of her own. She is wanting to keep placement of the children and continue caring for them. Her utility bill is 348.54. She is at risk for the power being turned off by 7/16.

The father is presently in the 32nd Judicial Treatment Court Program. He recently began communicating with his three children, ages 16, 13 and 11. The biggest issue at this time is that he does not have a phone. He can only contact his children when allowed to use another person phone. I am requesting that CarePortal assist this father with obtaining a phone, this is the only way he can communicate with his children on a regular basis and rebuild the relationship. It is also the only way he can continue to participate in the Treatment Court Program.

We have a sweet little girl with a bubbly, outgoing personality who recently had to be moved to a new placement. This was an unexpected, unplanned move. This little girl has to wear Goodnites pull-ups at night but unfortunately none were sent with her when she was moved. Her current placement does not have the extra funds right now to purchase these and is even having a difficult time finding them in her size, so we are reaching out in hopes this need can be met. The little girl is about 65lbs and therefore would probably wear the "Large" size for girls. Meeting this need would benefit the child as she is already embarrassed that she has to use them, but is even more embarrassed if she has an accident because she doesn't have a pull-up to wear at night. It would also benefit the foster parents as it would alleviate a small financial burden as well as eliminate having to wash bedding every night. If anyone can help meet this need it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

Hello!

I am working with a mother and her 4-year-old daughter. Mother and 4-year-old daughter recently started a Trial Home Visit (THV). Shortly after the THV, mom was asked to move out of the home she was living in and owned by a former friend of the mother's as they were going to sell the home. Since then, mother has stayed temporarily with a family member and now are staying in a hotel. A care portal request was completed for hotel assistance and was much appreciated! Mom has been paying for the hotel stay with her own money or help from distant family members. Mom and 21-year-old daughter are both employed full time in Cape, mom has a vehicle and 4-year-old attends daycare in Cape. Mom has been trying desperately to find housing, but due to her history, options are limited to non-existent. The 21-year-old has started putting in applications so the apartment can be in her name as she has no criminal or negative rental history. This is also a challenge as there is a fee with most apartment applications, and they cannot afford to pay these. With mom and daughter's income, they are able to afford a 2–3-bedroom apartment in a nicer part of town (can be outside of Cape Girardeau) between $700-$900 rent per month. Mom does have assistance from Community Partnership to help. Mom is very involved with the services from Children's Division and her PO. Hopeful that someone through Care Portal is knowledgeable of a place to rent.

The mother of three children recently reached out to the Children's Division for assistance with her bills. Dad was recently incarcerated, and due to this incident, Mom lost her job as well (no fault of her own). She has been working with the CD Prevention Worker and the Juvenile Officer and has never asked for help from them before. Mom was referred to several programs, including EDGE through Community Partnership, CCC YBHL, EMAA, the School, and food pantries in Bollinger County. Mom has checked with Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, EMAA, and Community Partnership, all of which have stated that they are currently out of funding to help. Mom has found a new job that pays better than any other she has ever had. It currently looks like Dad will be incarcerated for several years. The family is at risk of losing both their lot and the camper they are using as a primary residence. To keep this family together and mitigate any trauma caused by the father's incarceration, CD is requesting the following: $350 for lot rent and $260 for camper (house) payment (This camper is the family home and has been for a while). This will help mom and children stay together, as well as bring mom closer to being current, and will keep them from getting evicted from the lot and/or having the camper repossessed. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Prayers for the family are also welcome. Any amount you can donate will help us get closer to meeting this need.

Single mother with 4 kids has recently been relocated to newer housing. The family had a few beds for some of the kids at their old housing, however they were contaminated with mold and other environmental hazards so they were no longer considered appropriate for use. Mom did not have a bed at her old housing, she let the kids use the beds and the couch.

Children's Division is requesting for the Children: 1 Twin Bunk Bed with Bedding Set & 2 mattresses 2 Twin Beds with Bedding Sets & 2 mattresses 4 pillows

CD is also requesting for Mom: 1 full Bed with bedding set and 1 mattress 1 pillow

Getting new beds for the family will ensure that the children and mom have a safe comfortable place to sleep. The beds will also give the kids something at their new house that is their own, making them more invested for taking care of the house and beds/rooms. Once school starts back up, restful sleep is essential to their performance in their subjects.

Thank you for your time. Prayers for the family are also welcome.

Updated on July 09, 2025 by an Agency Worker
The 4 children are: an 8 year old girl, a 4 year old boy, almost 2 year old boy, and a 15 year old girl.

Hello, I am requesting assistance with paying for band shoes for a 14-year-old male who participates in band at Cape Central High School. The youth is a freshman this year and plays the sousaphone and has participated in band since Junior High School. This youth is on a trial home visit with his mom and her boyfriend. The trial home visit is going well. The parents are trying to manage bills and needs for their 4 children. During a home visit with the family yesterday, the mother explained she forgot about the need to order her 14-year-old son's band shoes which need to be ordered by 7/11/25 through Shivelbine's Music Store in Cape. There is no leftover money at this time as all bills have been paid. I called Shivelbine's and spoke with Maddie this morning and the cost of the shoes are $51.16 after tax. The youth wears a size 9 shoe. The youth must have his shoes by 7/28/25. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Foster family is in needed of a two-story fire safety ladder for an upstairs bedroom in order to meet licensing requirements as they are caring for their grandson.

Grandmother owns her trailer. The grandmother has some health challenges. There is a disabled elderly person residing in the home and a child with a disability in the home. The front entrance porch on the trailer has fallen in. The elderly disabled person fall on the porch and had to be taken to ER. The grandmother needs help to have the porch repaired or rebuilt as they do not have the skills to fix the porch. The family could possibly help pay for some of the materials. It is a small porch with three or four steps so they can get in and out of the trailer. I am estimating the cost to be around $800 to $900.00. Not sure of the cost. Hopefully someone can build the porch or help.

A mom who is living separate from the children's father is needing a vehicle to get to her appointments and visit with the children. She is currently looking for employment, attending treatment and visiting with the children. There are three children aged 5, 3, and a baby. The children are placed with family in the St. Louis area so visits have been hard to depend on others to help with transportation.

A family is looking for help in completing their new home. This family has a child in care and has the goal of that child going back home shortly. They are looking for help to tie their home and family together as they reunite with their child. They are looking for help in obtaining a washing machine and a dryer. Helping this family obtain these items will assist in their efforts to make their home welcoming and complete with the feelings of cleanliness. We thank you for the consideration.