OSAGE COUNTY — Members of the Osage County Democrat Club will host a community soup fundraiser on Friday, March 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Barefoot Event Center in Linn. Part of those funds will go to Linn R-2, but the total will be divided to benefit all three Osage County public schools, with proceeds intended to help meet student needs across the county’s three public school districts.

“The Osage County Democrat Club is doing this, and everything — the soups, the cookies, the drinks — is being donated by our club members,” said Fundraising Committee Chair Cheryl  Linhardt. “Any money we make will be divided between the three public schools in Osage County for needs that kids have.”

Funds raised through the event will help address issues such as unpaid lunch balances or items typically provided through school “caring closets,” according to Linhardt.

Club members began discussing the idea after recognizing the growing financial pressure on many families, Linhardt said. “Prices just keep going up, and families that have already been struggling are struggling more,” she said. “We just feel like we need to help kids.

“If it’s lunch account balances, or what I call a ‘caring closet’ where kids have specific needs — socks, shoes, whatever the school has set up — the funds can be used for anything that helps kids in those schools,” Linhardt said.

School staff often identify those needs directly, she added.

Chamois Superintendent Lyle Best noted that while the district does not have a specific project these funds would support, many things come up throughout the school year that require funds to support students. “These types of fundraisers can help with personal items we often keep on hand for students, supplies that can be used at home, incentive items to support engagement with learning, or many other needs that our staff notice would support our community,” he added. “We believe the future success of the county relies on all three school districts serving their community, and support such as this fundraiser is gratefully appreciated.”

Linhardt noted that staff who notice a child never has socks to wear could go to the office and explain the need.

Last week’s story on St. John’s United Methodist Church raising funds to reduce overdue lunch balances at Linn R-2 highlighted another example of the community stepping forward to support students.

Linn Superintendent Bob James noted that while the school has an informal “caring closet,“ the Osage County Democrat Club has a specific interest in paying off past-due lunch balances. “When the community shows up like this, it’s very powerful,” said James, adding the district is deeply appreciative. “We don’t take for granted the support we’ve seen from local groups to help raise funds.”

“Kids need the food they’re supposed to get,” Linhardt added. “Our club understood there’s a need among our students, and we need to meet it as much as we can.”

The fundraiser will take the form of a community soup dinner featuring a variety of homemade recipes prepared by club members.

“We’ll probably have eight or nine different varieties of soup,” Linhardt said. “Some will be meatless because some folks observe Lent, and we want to accommodate them.”

Homemade soups will include taco, ham and bean, vegetarian vegetable, and chicken noodle.

Meals will also include crackers, homemade cookies and a drink.

Organizers said the event is designed to encourage broad participation from the community, with club members contributing the food items.

“I hate to list names because it is our Democrat Club and I don’t want to leave someone out,” Linhardt said. “It’s not that we don’t want our names out there, but we don’t want to take credit for all of this as individuals.”

Instead, Linhardt emphasized the effort as a collective community project focused on helping local students.

“The more participation we get from the community, the better it is,” she said. “Our intention is not for us to take the glory. We merely want to help children whose parents are probably already struggling.”

Fatima Superintendent John Kitchens is equally grateful for the Democratic Club’s effort to support students and families in the community. “As the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise, we can expect to see growing pockets of need across the county,” he said. “Efforts like this soup fundraiser help support families, showing the strength and generosity of our community.”

Fatima provides buddy packs that include extra food to go home with students in need on Fridays, and a caring closet with food and hygiene products. Fatima staff coordinate with Food Bank of Central Missouri and Catholic Charities in support of the buddy packs and the caring closet, which also receives donations from the community

Organizers say they are hopeful the event will draw strong support.

“I just hope we have a really good turnout,” Linhardt said.