Well, folks, we have made it to the finale of Season One of Connecting Polk County here on Anchor.fm! This has been an absolutely fun project that has worked very well to continue to bring awareness to some of the projects, services and most importantly - people - that Polk County, Missouri has to offer!  I have loved every minute of getting to bring this podcast to you and getting to interview so many fun and unique individuals and organizations in our wonderful community that I am sad to see it come to a close, but it must, for now. To wrap up Season One, we bring back our friend Abby Hovey, program coordinator for the Summer Lunch Program.  This grant-funded program has been in operation since July 5 and has provided well over 300 FREE meals to local youth in our community!  Now, Abby has been with us before, but we wanted to get an update on how the program is progressing at the Cribbs Youth Park and to get some insight into her success and how the program came into being!  So, stick around and join us as we close Season One of Connecting Polk County! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

Thank you, Connecting Polk County Land! Six months in, we've hit our twentieth episode!  It's been quite a ride and a whole lot of fun! In episode, we chat with newcomer Mike Hanley with Alps Pharmacy in Springfield.  Even though Mike is coming to us from Greene County, he and his pharmacy have formed a very important partnership with the Polk County Health Center and the Polk County Senior Tax Board to provide diabetic shoes to senior citizens! If you are a senior who suffers with diabetes or care for one, you aren't going to want to miss this very important episode!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

In this episode of Connecting Polk County, we welcome Melissa Rohrbach, licensed professional counselor and owner of Rohrbach Services and The Spot.  Melissa gives us a heads up on an upcoming fundraiser being held right here in Bolivar and what raising funds will mean for The Spot Community Center, located at 302 West Jackson.  So, join along as we get to know one of the newest guests to our podcast making a strong difference in the lives of people in Bolivar and Polk County! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

Community Connections focuses a great deal of time on substance abuse when away from the podcast and we had a wonderful opportunity to meet with and learn from Pastor Tom Johnson.  Pastor Tom is the founder of Sling-n-Stones Ministries in Polk County.  We had a fantastic chance to hear about the great work Sling-n-Stones is doing in our community to help our neighbors suffering from all sorts of addictions, from drug and alcohol abuse to sexual addictions and marital insecurities.  We also had the chance to hear Pastor Tom's own testimony on how he kicked drug addiction with help from Jesus Christ.  Join with us as we hear an uplifting testimony and hear of more of the good works being done in and around Polk County, Missouri! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

As we roll into episode 17 of Connecting Polk County, we turn two returning friends Quincy Young and Laura Jenkins from the Polk County Library! Quincy and Laura join me today to discuss the always popular and successful Summer Reading Program held annually at your local library.  With this summer's theme of "Oceans of Possibilities", we find out all about the exciting challenges and prizes offered by the Library this summer.  We learn new information on how to participate in the this year's challenge and also get a first hand look at a grant just awarded to one of our most important partners!  With some tropical Caribbean music in to start us off, we invite you to strap on some goggles, put on your swim trunks and flippers and take a dive with the Summer 2022 Polk County Library Summer Reading Challenge! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

In this episode of Connecting Polk County, we have our friend Carol Bookhout, Education Coordinator from the Polk County Health Center back with us.  We discuss the pressing issue of the nationwide formula shortage which isn't sparing Southwest Missouri.  Also in this episode we talk about services offered at the Health Center and a new program coming for seniors and those with diabetic needs!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

Changing gears away from human services, I'm joined by our friend Brent Watkins as we quench our appetites and focus on Community Connections' economic pillar as we sample delicious calzones from Rocco's Pizza.  We enjoy a great conversation with some even greater food and discuss retro toys, the city-wide garage sale, children's economics and Missouri Beef Days!  Thanks to Rocco's Pizza for baking us up some delicious self-contained pizzas, aka "Calzones"!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

In another trip back to Bolivar High School, we meet with Mrs. Ashley Clift and the BHS SentrePact class.  This group of outstanding high school upperclassmen take a positive and progressive spin on the traditional high school economics class and work together with our community to help growing businesses thrive and become successful! This group is really one-of-a-kind but has big future plans for Southwest Missouri.  Take a listen and find out about all of the new and exciting prospects this neat group of young adults have for our local economy.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

Today we dig back into the vault and talk with Sandra and Cindy with the Families Anonymous Group, the first of its kind in Polk County! These ladies have a heart and passion for helping folks in need in our community, and they've created a brand-new group that focuses on bringing help to, not those who are suffering from addictions themselves, but to their families and support persons. Listen today and learn how you can find some help and support for yourself if you are helping and supporting someone you love! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support

Excitement abounds at the Bolivar High School as the year begins to draw to a close.  Few are more excited right now than the ladies of Tara Akins's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) squad.  These local high school students have worked extraordinarily hard throughout the academic year and overcome various challenges to win the Missouri regional competition, and now will progress to the National Qualifying event held in sunny San Diego, California this summer!  Join us as we support our local FCCLA students as we learn about how this group discovered the road to success and where they expect to go in life!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectingpolkcounty/support