THE HARD TRUTH
Occupying 63107, 63113 and 63115, the Villes have the 11th lowest median income out of the 138 zip codes in the City of St. Louis. Youth in the Villes are twice as likely to drop out of high school compared to other Missourians. Additionally, their parents endure an unemployment rate that is six percent higher than the national average. The Villes Crime Index is amongst the highest in the city. Access to affordable healthcare and clean green space is also very limited.
In 2001, the leadership of the Lively Stone Church of God celebrated 62 years of service to St. Louis City. A tax-exempt organization, God Is Able (GIA) Community Development Corporation was founded. The organization would leverage Lively Stone’s reputation as an enduring community institution to address widespread poverty and other support services to under represented families in the area. It would also replace traditional community outreach efforts used by faith-based organizations with research-based programming, formal structure and measurable outcomes common to non-profit work. GIA’s foremost goal is to “renew the spirit of the community and improve the quality of life for all through economic revitalization, critical support services and lifelong learning.
Initially, GIA rendered services to the immediate neighborhoods. These services were known as day care, free summer camp, Young Women In Action, Boys to Men, the food pantry,Warm N’ Fuzzy winter coats given to Farragut Elementary, Turner and Williams Middle Education Centers.
Join the Mission
Emergency Food and Clothing – Collaborate with the Lively Stone Church of God to offer:
Thanksgiving Bountiful Food Baskets
Christmas of Hope
Energy Assistance through
Peoples’ Community Action Agency (PCAC) and Community Action Agency St. Louis County (CAASTLC). We collaborate with these organizations and refer residents to them to assist and make aware of funding available from LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).
Liaison for AmerenUE and Spire – Registered with both utility companies to discuss residents to discuss bills and help with finding funds to prevent disconnection or restore service. The agencies allow us to discuss plans of action with the client.
St. Louis Science Center
As a community partner with the science center, awareness in science and math are experienced by our youth through jobs in the Youth Exploring Science (YES) program.
Domestic and Sexual Violence
Collaborative ties are just as important as partnerships for serving the victim and restoring stability. Collaborative efforts include, but not limited to referrals for legal and courts services, the victim is referred to the Crime Victim Advocacy Center.
Myron Gray, CCAP, NCRT
Executive Director