Current Grants & in-house programs
Books for teachers grant Program
In 2024, Heart of the Ozarks United Way launched a Books for Teachers grant program to provide up to $500 per teacher for the purchase of books to supplement lessons and course work. Each year, grants recipients are selected in the spring and fall, with at least two grant recipients per grant cycle. All book grants are for books that encourage reading and stimulate intellectual growth (e.g., novels, picture books, early readers, chapter books, memoirs, short story collections, etc.). Our next grant cycle is for the Mountain View/Birch Tree and Willow Springs School districts.
Applications must be submitted before midnight on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. To submit a grant, please fill out our Google Form: https://forms.gle/2qHN9bAkkjzeJUf99
Applications must be submitted before midnight on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. To submit a grant, please fill out our Google Form: https://forms.gle/2qHN9bAkkjzeJUf99
conversation starters program
The Conversation Starts program provides free group therapy or free art workshops to individuals of all ages to promote social connections and relationship building. A new slate of workshops launches this fall.
winter shelter
PROGRAM
The United Way, Ozark Action, the West Plains Police Department, and Samaritan Outreach have been working together since 2021 to provide overnight warming shelters to unsheltered individuals during extremely cold weather. This program runs from December to March. For more information, call 417-257-7184.
PAST IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
VOUCHER PROGRAM
|
Our Household Goods Voucher Program began in 2021 to provide mattresses and essential household items to Howell and Oregon County renters who were formerly unhoused.
Since its inception, we have provided household goods to over 37 families and individuals in need. Participants in this program are vetted by Sharon Cobb at Ozark Action when they apply for housing. For more information, contact Sharon at 417-256-6147. Read about our program here. |
United to help out neighbors statewide
United to Help Our Neighbors Statewide (UHONS) is a statewide program that pays for past-due rent, past-due utilities, childcare, and auto repair for low-income families. This program disbursed $75,000 to local households in 2024.
utility deposit
PROGRAM
Newly housed low-income families who go through Ozark Action's housing program may qualify for our utility deposit program. This program is funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of West Plains.