Bright Futures - Carl Junction

04/08/2026

This week, some of the amazing members of the Junior High National Junior Art Honor Society packed our Weekend Food Packs. They were so energetic, fun, and willing to help their fellow students. Thank you so much to Mrs. Bucher and NJAHS students!

04/07/2026

❤️🐾 Thank You, Joplin Masonic Lodge! 🐾❤️

Bright Futures – Carl Junction is incredibly grateful to the Joplin Masonic Lodge and the Masonic Home of Missouri for their generous $867.00 donation to support our Weekend Food Pack program.

This meaningful gift will help provide healthy food for more than 100 CJ students, ensuring they have what they need over the weekend when school meals are not available. ❤️

We are also excited to welcome the Joplin Masonic Lodge as a new partner in our community! Having recently purchased the former Carl Junction Masonic Lodge building on North Main Street, they are eager to get involved and make a difference—and we are already seeing that impact.

Together, we are building a stronger, more supportive community for our students. Thank you for helping us meet needs and create opportunities! ❤️

02/11/2026

👁️💙 Free Community Wellness Event – Open to All Ages! 💙👂
The Joplin and District M6 Lions Clubs are proud to present a FREE Community Wellness Event designed to support the health and well-being of our community!
🗓 February 27, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Joplin Association for the Blind
311 S. Schifferdecker Ave., Joplin, MO
Services available at no cost include:
✔️ Free eye screenings and glasses (in partnership with the Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation and local optometrists)
✔️ KidSight vision screening for children of all ages
✔️ Free vitals check-up
✔️ Free diabetes testing
✔️ Free hearing screening
This event is open to all ages and is a wonderful opportunity to take care of your health — or help a loved one do the same.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with family and friends! 💛🦁

12/11/2025

Huge Bulldog shout-out to our amazing 1st-grade classes for showing what caring for our community truly looks like! 🐾❤️

These big-hearted students—and their equally generous families—donated food items to support our Bright Futures Weekend Food Pack program, helping ensure CJ kids have what they need every weekend.

Thank you to the students in Miss Passley’s, Mrs. Tuggles’s, Mrs. Chaligoj’s, Mrs. Merrell’s, and Mrs. Benavidez’s classes for leading with kindness and making a real difference. We are so proud of you! 🙌🎉

12/09/2025

Hey CJ Families,
Thanks to some generous donors, we have coats, gloves, and hats. If your child needs winter-weather gear, email us at [email protected].

12/08/2025

We had a last-minute cancellation for a team to pack our Weekend Food Packs this week. No problem!! These amazing Intermediate students came to the rescue and did a great job packing more than 100 packs for this week's distribution! Thank you to Dr. DeMasters and representatives from the Student Vision Committee.

11/06/2025

Thank you, Mrs. Porter and Mrs. McDonald’s 2nd Grade Classes! ❤️🥜

Our amazing 2nd graders have been learning about Citizenship and what it means to be active, caring members of our community. As part of their Portrait of a Graduate focus on Relationships and Helping Others in Need, the students collected peanut butter and other food items to support our Bright Futures Carl Junction program.

Yesterday, they delivered the donations to the Bright Futures room—with big smiles and even bigger hearts! 💗

And they’re not done yet! In December, these students will return to help pack our Weekend Food Bags, continuing their hands-on learning about kindness, generosity, and making a difference.

Thank you to these students—and to Mrs. Porter and Mrs. McDonald—for showing what it looks like to care for others. Bulldog Pride in action! 🐾✨

10/24/2025

Helping Hands is a great resource for our Carl Junction families. Please visit them if you need food assistance. If you can donate, here is a list of their most requested items.

10/22/2025

🎄 Salvation Army Christmas Assistance Information 🎁

The Salvation Army Angel Tree and Food Box Programs are here to help families in need this Christmas season.

📝 Applications must be completed IN PERSON
(Online applications are not available this year.)

📍 Joplin Office (320 E. 8th Street)
🗓️ November 3, 5 & 7 | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🗓️ November 4 & 6 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📦 Distribution Day: December 18 | 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM

📍 Carthage – First United Methodist Church (617 S. Main St.)
🗓️ Sign-ups: November 4 & 6 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📦 Distribution Day: December 17 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

📍 Neosho Distribution: December 19 | 10:00 AM – Noon

Bring the following documents:
✅ Photo ID for every adult in the household
✅ Proof of residency in Jasper or Newton County (current utility bill, lease, mortgage, or SSDI/federal mail – no cell phone bills)
✅ Proof of birthdate for every household member (birth certificate, school ID, or SNAP statement)
✅ List of Social Security numbers for all household members (cards not needed)
✅ Legal guardians must bring court documentation
✅ Children must live in the home full time (only one parent may apply if custody is 50/50)

🎅 This is a wonderful program providing toys and food to families during the holidays — please share this information with anyone who may need assistance!

10/14/2025

Last Thursday, Bright Futures Interns, Brooklynne and Jadyn, held a food drive for the Weekend Food Pack program at the home volleyball game. Thanks to everyone who brought an item to support the Food Pack Program!!

09/04/2025

Please join us for Breakfast on Saturday!

Join us for Breakfast on Saturday morning! Thanks to the CJ Lions Club for hosting the monthly community breakfast. This month's breakfast benefits Bright Futures - Carl Junction! Bright Futures - Carl Junction supports our students-in-need in various ways, including providing weekend food packs.
• Community Breakfast - sponsored by the Carl Junction Lions Club
• Saturday, September 6, 7:30-10:30 AM
• A portion of this month’s breakfast proceeds will go to the CJ Bright Futures Weekend Food Program for CJ students.
• MENU: Pancakes, Sausage, Biscuits/Gravy, Eggs, Potatoes, Coffee, Milk, & Juice
• $7.00 Adults and children 11 and up
• $3.00 Children (ages 3-10)
• Children under 3 - FREE
• Cash, Checks, and Cards accepted
• Carl Junction Community Center 303 N. Main St., Carl Junction, MO