Voluntary Action Center

06/20/2026

Something big is coming this July, and we couldn't do it without partners who show up when it matters.
Thank you to for going above and beyond. VU staff came to the VAC Opportunity Campus and got to work: setting up beds, washing linens, and preparing our new shelter space for opening day. Hands-on, meaningful work that made a real difference.
Waypoint Shelter opens this July at The Hub on VAC Opportunity Campus, bringing emergency shelter services to our community. This is what partnership looks like. We rise together. It's not just something we believe; it's the only way this work gets done.

06/19/2026

Juneteenth is a day worth pausing for. 🖤❤️💚

On June 19th, 1865, enslaved people in Texas received word that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

That moment is the foundation of everything we celebrate today.

We honor it by slowing down, reflecting, and recommitting to the work and the communities we serve.

The Cindy Mustard Resource Center and VAC administrative offices will be closed on Friday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day.

If you need support while we're away, please call 211 for local resources in our area.

We'll be back Monday, June 22nd.

06/11/2026

We're hiring. 💙

VAC Opportunity Campus is looking for a Weekend Safety & Security Specialist to join our team, someone who brings both professionalism and compassion to the work.

This isn't a traditional security role. You'll be building real relationships with people experiencing homelessness, de-escalating with care, and helping create an environment where guests, staff, and neighbors all feel safe.

What the role looks like: 🔹 Part-time or full-time available 🔹 $21/hour starting pay 🔹 Weekend shifts at our Columbia, MO campus 🔹 Includes benefits: PTO, life insurance & EAP

We're looking for someone with experience in security, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, or working with unhoused individuals. CPR/First Aid certification is a plus.

If you lead with calm, think on your feet, and believe dignity and safety go hand in hand, we want you here.

🔗 Apply www.vacmo.org/about-us/employment-opportunities/

05/28/2026

Since 1996, VAC's Summer Fan Program has kept our neighbors safe when summer heat becomes a health threat. In 2025, your support helped distribute 462 fans to 1,226 people across Boone County.

This year, our goal is 400 fans, and we're just getting started. Right now, we've raised $0. That changes with you.

A box fan isn't a comfort item.
For a senior, a young child, or someone managing a health condition, it can be the difference between safety and a medical emergency.

You can help in two ways:

💛 Donate at vacmo.org/resource-center/programs/summer-fan-club/

📦 Drop off a new or gently used box fan at 1300 Bowling St., Columbia — Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm

Every gift matters. Every fan counts. Don't wait — summer is already here.

05/27/2026

Every year since 2022, guests at the Central Missouri Renaissance Festival haven't just brought their enthusiasm; they've brought food. 🍞🥫

One weekend a year, the festival collects non-perishable donations as its entry fee and donates every single item to VAC's food pantry, stocking shelves and supporting neighbors right here in Boone County.

That kind of creativity and generosity matters more than you know.

Thank you, , for donating 721 pounds of food, making community care part of the experience.

To every organization, event, or business reading this:
Your gathering is an opportunity.
A 5K. A festival.
A concert.
A company picnic.
Any entry point can become a moment of impact.

If you're interested in collecting food donations for VAC's pantry at your next event, reach out. We'd love to make it easy.

📩 vacmo.org

❤️

05/27/2026

Imagine a neighbor experiencing homelessness walking through our doors.

Under one roof, they'll find emergency shelter, a place for their pet, warm meals, and medical and mental health support all in one place.

That's what the VAC Opportunity Campus makes possible.

This July, The Hub, the second building on VAC OC opens its doors.

This community has carried this vision for years, and we are almost home.

Want to see it for yourself?
Join us for a Public Open House on June 25 and get a first look at the space that will change lives in Boone County.

Registration is required and free. → https://www.vacmo.org/events/open-house-2026/

05/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1MyGxQLXeZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🚨 WE’RE HIRING! 🚨

Looking for a career where you can truly make a difference every single day? VAC Opportunity Campus is searching for an amazing Shelter Case Manager to join our team! 💙 Part-Time and Full-Time positions available!

If you’re compassionate, organized, people-focused, and passionate about helping others move toward stability and success — we want to meet you!

What you’ll do:
✨ Support and advocate for clients
✨ Connect people to life-changing resources
✨ Help individuals set goals and build brighter futures
✨ Be part of a supportive, mission-driven team

Why join us?
💥 Meaningful work that matters
💥 Great team environment
💥 Opportunity to create real community impact
💥 Every day is different

If you’re ready to bring heart, purpose, and positive energy to your work, this could be the perfect fit.

👉 To apply, follow this link https://www.indeed.com/job/shelter-case-manager-3960f775798d26e8

05/26/2026

📚 Got books collecting dust on your shelves?
Give them a new life. Drop off your gently used books at the Cindy Mustard Resource Center — weekdays from 9am–12pm and 1–4pm.

📍 1300 Bowling St, Columbia, MO 65201

Someone out there is waiting for the book you've already read.

05/23/2026

Our Cindy Mustard Resource Center will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

We'll be back open and ready to serve on Tuesday, May 26.

If you have an immediate need this weekend, dial 2-1-1. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 and can connect you with local resources. 📞
We're grateful for this community and for everyone who shows up, every day, to care for one another. 💙

05/21/2026

Summer heat isn't just uncomfortable. For many people in our community, it's genuinely dangerous.

Seniors. Young children. Those living with heart conditions, respiratory illness, or limited mobility. For them, a box fan isn't a nice-to-have — it's a lifeline.

Every summer, VAC's Summer Fan Program connects community donations directly to neighbors who need them most. This year, our goal is 400 fans by August 28.

If you can give → vacmo.org/fans
$25 provides one free fan to someone in need.

If you need one → call 573-874-2273
Free fans available while supplies last.

No barriers. No judgment. Just neighbors taking care of neighbors.