Uplift Mid-MO

05/22/2026

Sneak Peek! We have an exciting collab happening right now with one of our church partners to bring another blessing box to Mexico. It is coming along nicely!

Stay tuned for more details! 🤩

05/06/2026

We are so excited to welcome First Baptist Church of Mexico, MO as our newest church partner! We could not do what we do without our deep network of church and agency partnerships in Audrain County.

If you or someone you love needs help, visit https://upliftmidmo.org/get-help/ for a full list of oir church and agency partners.

03/27/2026

We are super excited to add another fantastic board member to the Uplift board: Dana Evans Keller!

Dana Keller serves as Executive Director of the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce, a role she has held since 2009. Throughout her career, Dana has been dedicated to strengthening the local workforce, supporting families, and building a more stable and connected community.

A longtime member of the Bright Futures Mexico Advisory Board since the community became an affiliate in 2014, Dana is a strong advocate for children and believes that raising successful, resilient youth is a shared community responsibility. She frequently emphasizes volunteerism and service as essential to healthy communities.

Certified in Workplace Stability and Bridges Out of Poverty, Dana also chairs the Mexico Sustainability Project, a chamber-launched nonprofit focused on workforce and community support initiatives. Dana and her husband, Martin, along with their two daughters, share a lifelong commitment to serving children and advocating for individuals with disabilities.

We are so grateful for Dana's willingness to support Uplift Mid-MO's efforts in Audrain County! Welcome, Dana!

02/14/2026

We are so honored to see our Founder & Board President, Kate Shaw, featured in Motherly this week. 🤍

While the article highlights her leadership in tech and her work helping women claim their seat at the table, what means the most to us is the spotlight it shines on Uplift Mid-MO and the heart behind this ministry.

Uplift was founded in 2019 to serve as a “gap ministry” in Audrain County — stepping in when families fall between the cracks. When funding limits, income thresholds, or unavailable services leave neighbors without help, we show up.

Because that’s what community does.

Since our founding, Uplift has distributed thousands of dollars in direct assistance to local residents — made possible by the generosity of churches, businesses, and individuals who believe in caring for their neighbors.

And this work isn’t done alone. Uplift is powered by an incredible team of women, starting with Libby Landrum, our Director, Sherry Withington Reetz, our Service Coordinator, our board, and volunteers — all who lead with compassion, faith, and a deep love for this community.

We’re grateful for the visibility this feature brings — not to one person, but to the mission of uplifting Audrain County together.

If you’d like to read the full story, you can find it here:
https://www.mother.ly/life/kate-shaw-is-helping-women-claim-their-seat-at-the-tech-table-while-raising-three-boys-and-uplifting-her-hometown/

Thank you for being part of this work. 💛

Read "Kate Shaw is helping women claim their seat at the tech table—while raising three boys and uplifting her hometown" on Motherly. Discover expert

02/05/2026

Sharing for one of our church partners Union Baptist Church, Mexico, MO

This community men's event focuses on worship, fellowship, great food, giveaways, and encouragement for men in our area. Everyone is welcome, and we invite folks to bring friends and their favorite game dish.

08/19/2025

Check out our Q2 Update!

08/10/2025

Reminder: tomorrow, August 10th is the last day to register for the Broken Women's Conference on Sept 19-20th!

Register: https://form.jotform.com/252086000964150

07/31/2025

Uplift is partnered with Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition and we cannot stress enough the vital piece this organization plays in the overall support and infrastructure for our community resources. The reality is, there are homeless in our community, and those people are struggling with a number of things that keep them on the streets, whether it is addiction, mental health, or just unfortunate circumstances. It is unbelievably complex. In order for agencies like Uplift to help support these individuals, they have to have a stable place to find emergent shelter, and in many cases, transitional housing as organizations work together to lift these folks out of their situation. Uplift does not have the capacity to provide emergency shelter unless it is an extreme weather situation/children are involved. Transitional housing, as well as the shelter, has been an absolute Godsend for our community and we would encourage everyone to support what they are doing. When its 0 degrees outside and we have to look someone in the eyes who is freezing cold and hungry, knowing we have a resource is such a huge thing. We can't fix it all. But we absolutely should try everything we can to meet basic human needs. Audrain County organizations and agencies do an amazing job collaborating to help people in our community- ACSRC is a vital part of that.

Room at the Inn serves shelter purposes for people in the area each winter at the Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition in Mexico. Winter may be months away, but the head of the organization …

07/16/2025

Now that the dust has settled from the Color Splash event, we're super excited to introduce you to a new Uplift board member, Wendy Lentz!

Wendy Lentz brings nearly 20 years of experience as a dedicated public school teacher to her role as a board member. Passionate about improving educational outcomes for all students, Wendy understands that the most significant indicators of academic success are a child’s home environment and family income level. This truth fuels her deep commitment to serving those living in poverty and historically marginalized communities.

Wendy's first priority is her faith, which guides every aspect of her life. A Christian of more than 40 years, she has served in churches by teaching Sunday School, and leading worship.

Rooted in community and compassion, Wendy sees her work, both in education and in service, as a calling. She recently celebrated 27 years of marriage to her rock star husband, Troy, and is the proud mother of three beautiful children; Savannah, Laney, and J.T., all received through the blessing of adoption. Wendy’s life and leadership are a testament to her unwavering faith, her love for people, and her vision of a more just and hopeful future for all people.

Welcome, Wendy! We are so blessed to have you a part of the team!

07/16/2025

Another opportunity to support one of our church Partners, First Presbyterian Church of Mexico !