Event center re-purposed as youth outreach
January 12, 2022
Ezra DeVore
“Youth Outreach is a program to assist the lives of teenagers in our area,” says Bridget Rundall, co-owner of the program, along with her husband, Kasey.
The Rundalls are the new occupants of Stumpff’s Event Center and have a contract to purchase the building at the end of a one-year lease.
Bridget Rundall graduated from Cassville High School in 2009 and realized that, “typically in a small town, there are not a lot of options when it comes to doing much. So, our goal is to not only provide entertainment for the kids with computers, table access, card games, movie nights with a projector screen, but also the resources that teenagers need.”
Barry County and other thinly populated counties in the United States suffer the same shortcoming: the surrounding areas have few constructive or leisurely activities young people can enjoy safely. Rundall asserts that this lack of amenities contributes greatly to what can turn into a life-crippling addiction.
“There’s a pretty significant drug issue here, and some youths that stay here, end up addicted to drugs. I really feel like if we give the kids every resource they need, we can help,” Rundall continued. “There are a lot of youths in our area who live homeless or with a low income: kids who live on their own and don’t have access to the basic needs that they should have. Also, we know there are kids who are becoming pregnant, so we want to make programs to donate the basic baby needs. Because that’s a lot on the teenager, but also on their families.”
Additionally, Rundall explained, “Arvest reached out to us, interested in offering financial classes to teach the kids how to budget money. We’re hoping to pair with Crowder, also, and visit with the youth about doing their FAFSA and applying for colleges. We want to give the kids every resource they need to successfully transition to adulthood.”
Though Bridget and Kasey Rundall hope for The Hive to be open no later than March, the building will be used to host special events until then. The Hive will be hosting their first event, a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction, on Saturday, January 15, from 5 - 7 p.m. at 463 State Highway 76, Cassville.
Adult tickets are $10 each, and children’s tickets are $5 each (for ages 12 and under). To donate a gift certificate or specific item from your business to put in the silent auction, people may contact The Hive at 417-342-2271. All future event updates and information will be available on The Hive Youth Outreach's Facebook Page.
“Youth Outreach is a program to assist the lives of teenagers in our area,” says Bridget Rundall, co-owner of the program, along with her husband, Kasey.
The Rundalls are the new occupants of Stumpff’s Event Center and have a contract to purchase the building at the end of a one-year lease.
Bridget Rundall graduated from Cassville High School in 2009 and realized that, “typically in a small town, there are not a lot of options when it comes to doing much. So, our goal is to not only provide entertainment for the kids with computers, table access, card games, movie nights with a projector screen, but also the resources that teenagers need.”
Barry County and other thinly populated counties in the United States suffer the same shortcoming: the surrounding areas have few constructive or leisurely activities young people can enjoy safely. Rundall asserts that this lack of amenities contributes greatly to what can turn into a life-crippling addiction.
“There’s a pretty significant drug issue here, and some youths that stay here, end up addicted to drugs. I really feel like if we give the kids every resource they need, we can help,” Rundall continued. “There are a lot of youths in our area who live homeless or with a low income: kids who live on their own and don’t have access to the basic needs that they should have. Also, we know there are kids who are becoming pregnant, so we want to make programs to donate the basic baby needs. Because that’s a lot on the teenager, but also on their families.”
Additionally, Rundall explained, “Arvest reached out to us, interested in offering financial classes to teach the kids how to budget money. We’re hoping to pair with Crowder, also, and visit with the youth about doing their FAFSA and applying for colleges. We want to give the kids every resource they need to successfully transition to adulthood.”
Though Bridget and Kasey Rundall hope for The Hive to be open no later than March, the building will be used to host special events until then. The Hive will be hosting their first event, a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction, on Saturday, January 15, from 5 - 7 p.m. at 463 State Highway 76, Cassville.
Adult tickets are $10 each, and children’s tickets are $5 each (for ages 12 and under). To donate a gift certificate or specific item from your business to put in the silent auction, people may contact The Hive at 417-342-2271. All future event updates and information will be available on The Hive Youth Outreach's Facebook Page.