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Posted on 08/14/2025

Lebanon Area Foundation Joins Forces with True Charity

By Sarah Hampton

In Laclede County, Lebanon Area Foundation and its program, Community Cares, are partnering with the True Charity Network to promote action plans that encourage accountability, positive outcomes, and more effective ways to serve those in need. Community Cares, established in 2000, is Lebanon Area Foundation’s grant-making program. It raises funds and distributes them to local nonprofits that provide vital services in Lebanon and Laclede County. All contributions stay local, directly benefiting area residents.

True Charity, based in Joplin, Missouri, is an organization that advocates for a different approach to fighting poverty. Rather than simply providing handouts, True Charity promotes “effective charity” — solutions that are long-term, preserve dignity, and focus on self-sufficiency. The organization believes that chronic poverty is often rooted in broken relationships and that lasting change comes from empowering people to help themselves.

This approach grew out of Watered Gardens Ministries in Joplin, where the founders saw that traditional charity sometimes created dependency. They developed programs like the “Worth Shop,” where individuals could work to earn what they needed, preserving dignity and encouraging self-worth.

The partnership between Community Cares and True Charity is significant for Lebanon because it combines local dedication with proven, results-based strategies from across the nation. By working together, they can ensure charitable dollars are used more effectively, encourage self-reliance among those in need, and strengthen the entire nonprofit network in the county. This collaboration means that Lebanon’s charitable efforts won’t just address immediate needs — they will create pathways to long-term stability, helping individuals and families break cycles of poverty and building a stronger, more prosperous community for everyone.

“Community Cares’ accountability and transparency is what makes it so valuable to our community,” said Lebanon Area Foundation Executive Director Melinda Fries. “We want to continue improving to ensure our community is growing in prosperity. Being a part of the True Charity Network has opened my eyes to how I can make small but important changes to the Community Cares Grant application. The True Charity Network gives us the opportunity to connect with nonprofits across the nation who are implementing programs focused on positive outcomes and deeper relationships with those in need. We want to promote and share these model action plans here in Laclede County by leading by example and encouraging area nonprofits to consider better ways to be charitable.”

As of September 2024, True Charity has 213 member organizations in 32 states, serving roughly 800,000 people. They have held workshops in five states with over 250 participants and raised $703,622 in funding from 2023 to 2024.

To learn how you can be involved contact Melinda Fries mfries@lafcares.org