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Care to Share outlines services, growth and new community stage to county commissioners
Summary
Care to Share, a volunteer-run nonprofit serving Bourbon, Crawford and Linn counties, told commissioners it returned about $100,000 in assistance to local cancer patients in 2024, described expanded services and announced a $70,000 mobile stage funded by Timken.
Corey Bridal, vice president of the board of directors at Care to Share, and Teresa "TD" Davenport, the group's president, updated the Bourbon County Commission on the nonprofit's work and recent growth.
The presentation outlined the charity's mission—providing emotional and financial assistance to cancer patients and caregivers—and described how the organization routes help through volunteer "caring angels." Bridal told commissioners that by October 2024 the group was on track to provide about $100,000 in direct assistance during the calendar year, roughly the same total as 2022 and 2023 combined.
Care to Share said its assistance includes gas vouchers, rides to treatment (the group now has a van with a wheelchair lift and a volunteer ride coordinator), household help, and direct financial aid. The group described more than 3,000 individual transactions in recent years and more than 100 people helped in 2024, with several clients receiving multiple forms of assistance over the course of treatment.
Board members described fundraising and operations: modest event proceeds and small donations make up most revenue, memorial gifts and local business support add larger gifts, and the group has raised more than $300,000 over the last three years. Davenport said the largest single gift in that period was $5,000; the group has received many smaller donations and in-kind support. Care to Share also belongs to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and raised $12,000 on a recent Giving Day that was matched to $24,000.
Bridal described a $70,000 grant from Timken that purchased a mobile stage the nonprofit will loan to community groups and which the board intends to use partly to raise funds. He said the stage expands options for community events, including use in inclement weather. The group also reported opening an office at 9 East Wall in Fort Scott (old Flint and Frey building), with volunteer staff and a plan for a small gift shop and discounted service providers on site.
Care to Share invited volunteers and donors to contact the organization and distributed brochures with contact information. Davenport and Bridal thanked the commission and county for past support and said the group never has had to turn away a cancer patient needing help.
Commissioners thanked the group and members of the public offered brief comments in support of Care to Share's work.
Ending: Care to Share provided phone and contact details in printed brochures and offered to answer follow-up questions from county officials about partnerships and volunteer coordination.
