On a warm afternoon filled with families, supporters, and community partners, The James II Project once again demonstrated something powerful: when a community shows up, lives are directly impacted.

Led by founder and CEO Karin Kostich, the organization’s recent putt-putt golf fundraiser did more than bring people together for an afternoon of fun. It generated meaningful support that will help continue meals, outreach, and relationship-driven care for people facing hardship across Jefferson County.

Turning Support Into Real Outcomes

According to Kostich, the event raised $2,400, a number with immediate significance for the organization’s day-to-day work.

For an organization that serves meals multiple times each week, that support translates directly into care. It helps make sure meals are available, needs are met, and people facing difficult circumstances are met with consistency and compassion.

Kostich said the fundraiser also reflects the organization’s commitment to hosting events that welcome the whole community.

That vision was visible throughout the event, from sponsors who supported individual holes to attendees who came ready to take part in a fundraiser built around accessibility, connection, and purpose.

A Mission Rooted in Relationship

The James II Project’s work is centered on more than meeting immediate needs. The organization serves those who are unhoused, underserved, or walking through difficult seasons by providing hot meals, access to showers and laundry, hygiene bags, and most importantly, meaningful human connection.

Kostich said the heart of that mission is taking time to sit down with people, hear their stories, pray with them, and help connect them with resources that may help them move forward.

Through partnerships with organizations like Compass case workers, Chestnut case workers, St. Vincent de Paul, and Catholic Charities, The James II Project works to connect people not only to immediate support, but to longer-term solutions.

Remembering Why the Work Matters

For Kostich, one of the most meaningful parts of the event was simply watching people enjoy being together.

That moment carried particular weight following the recent loss of one of the people the organization served in Festus. In the midst of that grief, the fundraiser became more than a successful event. It became a reminder of the importance of the mission and the strength of the support surrounding it.

Kostich said seeing people laugh, connect, and show up in support of the work was deeply encouraging.

Why Fundraising Matters

Like many nonprofits, The James II Project depends on a combination of donations and grant funding to sustain its work.

Kostich said the organization is funded about 60 percent by donors and 40 percent by grants, making community support essential to maintaining operations.

That funding supports more than meals. It also helps cover the behind-the-scenes needs that can make a life-changing difference, including emergency hotel stays, transportation to reconnect people with family, and other urgent forms of assistance.

Expanding the Mission

The organization is also preparing for its next phase of growth.

In June, The James II Project plans to begin serving in High Ridge. Kostich said the organization is working closely with St. Anthony’s, the Archdiocese, Catholic Charities, and other partners as they prepare the facility and secure support for a commercial dishwasher installation.

The new meal service will take place on Tuesday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m., a time frame Kostich believes will make it easier to reach families who may not be able to attend daytime meals.

She said the High Ridge location may also bring more children and families into the ministry’s reach, particularly with a food pantry already operating at the site later in the week.

Upcoming Event: Bowling for a Cause

The next opportunity for the community to support The James II Project is already on the calendar.

Bowling for a Cause will be held on August 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Concord Bowl. The event’s message is simple and powerful: one meal can change a life.

The organization also plans to host its second annual holiday-themed trivia night on November 13 at the Elks on the outer road in Imperial.

How the Community Can Help

For those who want to support the work moving forward, Kostich said donating through the organization’s annual campaign is one way to help. But she also encouraged people to do something even more personal: come see the work firsthand.

What people find, she said, is more than a meal service. At locations like the Salvation Army, guests often arrive early to play Yahtzee or Scrabble, spend time together, and build relationships that feel more like family than a program.

For The James II Project, that sense of dignity, belonging, and connection is not secondary to the mission. It is the mission.

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