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Kent Faddis
TV News Producer
573-882-5361
faddisk@umsystem.edu
Published: Sept. 20, 2007
Story Source: Charles St. Clair, 816-407-3490
Accompanying video sound bites and b-roll are available for viewing or download at http://umsystem.edu/video.
MU Extension helps nonprofits help those in need
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Peggy Smith unloads her van full of wheelchairs, walkers and medical supplies. Most of these items have been donated and will soon help someone in need. Smith is the director of an organization in Kansas City called Collaboration Works. It's a place where donated medical equipment or supplies are given to uninsured and low income people with health needs. Most items are free, but if Smith doesn't have the item she can get it at cost.
"If you are going out to the open market, you are looking at approximately a 300 percent markup plus tax. People get things here that they never thought they could afford," Smith said.
Collaboration Works has been able to expand and help people with their medical needs because it is a nonprofit organization. However, receiving the nonprofit status can be overwhelming for people who are not familiar with the government paperwork involved. Smith needed help applying for nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service.
"The process really scares people," said Charles St. Clair, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension. "Anytime you are dealing with either the state or federal government people get very nervous."
MU Extension specialists guide many organizations through the maze of paperwork. In most cases, critical funding is available only for nonprofit organizations.
"Had we not got that nonprofit status fairly quickly, we would have missed out on quite a bit of funding," Smith said.
"The nonprofit status can make the difference between whether an organization stays in business or has to go out of business," St. Clair said.
St. Clair continues to help Smith because a nonprofit operation must have enough money to keep the doors open, pay staff and buy medical supplies.
"We try to help nonprofit organizations utilize a business-plan approach, such as knowing what their income is and what their expenses are going to be, so they can continue to help people," St. Clair said.
This year Collaboration Works will distribute medical supplies to more than 5,000 people, and not all of them are from Kansas City. People contact Smith from all over Missouri and even other states.
Keeping medical supplies and equipment stocked on the shelves and running the operation does not happen without volunteers. Volunteers, such as MU Extension Clay County 4-H members, help the organization raise money and locate medical supplies.
"We always try to come back to Peggy and give her medical supplies for what she needs," said Meredith Brunko, 4-H member from Kearney, Mo. "She always tells us what she needs, and we will try and find it for her."
For more information about Collaboration Works in Kansas City visit their Web site, www.collaborationworksonline.com, or visit the MU Extension Web site, www.extension.missouri.edu.
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| From left, University of Missouri Extension Clay County 4-H members, Meredith Brunkow of Kearney, Mo., and Mary-Margaret Mense of Liberty, Mo., collect medical supplies for Peggy Smith, director of Collaboration Works in Kansas City. Photo credit: MU Photo by Kent Faddis |
