For 60 years, NECAC, also known as the North East Community Action Corporation, has been changing lives and playing a huge impact in communities through Northeast Missouri, including Montgomery County.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary, NECAC held receptions in 12 of its offices, including the Montgomery County office, located at 137 Farnen. The receptions were also part of National Community Action Month, which is celebrated in May.

Several local businesses such as MU Extension, Montgomery Area United Way, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Montgomery County R-II School District and American Bank of Freedom as well as the Montgomery County Commission were in attendance at the reception on May 15.

NECAC was founded in April 1965 as the TRICO Economic Opportunity Agency in New London and administered federally-funded programs in Ralls, Pike, Monroe counties. The name was later changed to QUINCO. In the late 1960s, the agency added a program in Montgomery County after it merged with Daniel Boone Human Development Corporation of Troy.

There are NECAC offices in St. Charles, Warren, Marion, Macon, Shelby and Lewis counties.

Montgomery County NECAC offers energy assistance, which helps families who are struggling to pay electric bills. It also holds life skills classes, which teaches people how to develop a professional resume and budgeting their money.

“NECAC does a lot of different things,” NECAC intake assistant Carey Westerman.

Kacey Kuda, the Central and Northeast Regional Screening Navigator for Gateway To Hope, works for an organization that helps create better lives for residents in Missouri and Illinois.

“A lot of times, people just want to talk to me,” Kuda said. “Ninety percent of my phone calls are from single moms who are struggling with life and now have to deal with doing diagnostics. We just work through things together. There’s a lot of psychosocial support through text, calls and emails.”

Representing the R-II School District was Kylie Waite, who has been the district’s social worker since August 2021. She has been involved in social work for nearly 20 years.

“We have a lot of exciting things happening,” Waite said. “Last year, we brought in teletherapy for our kiddos to the school through clarity help. It’s been great so kiddos don’t have to be transported around. We know transportation is a huge issue.”

Aggie Baldetti represented the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which serves Montgomery County residents who are facing emergency situations.

“We just help with absolutely everything that we can, whether it’s a utility bill or rent,” Baldetti said. “Sometimes, it’s car problems. It can be whatever. We really try to take everything into consideration.”

Also in attendance was Joan Andrews, who is the chairperson for the Montgomery Area United Way and works for MU Extension.

“The United Way provides funds for NECAC,” Andrews said. “People apply for it, but all of these people here get money from the United Way, which I think it’s a great thing because it helps a lot of folks.”

Dori Moore, who works for the Department of Social Services, said her organization collaborates and networks with other organizations such as NECAC.

“We also go out into the community and let people know about the programs that the state has,” Moore said. “Our biggest one is the Skill Lot program, in which if people who are on food stamps, they have the opportunity to sign up for a program that’s skill operated. The state will put them through a short term training at no cost.”

Kim Cullom, MU Extension nutritional program associate, Elizabeth Schmidt of American Bank of Freedom also attended the event.