Successful Trivia Night at the Liston Center Raises Funds for Community Kitchen

The Liston Center was abuzz with excitement as community members gathered for a lively Trivia Night fundraiser aimed at raising funds for crucial improvements to the center’s kitchen. The event, which saw enthusiastic participation from a diverse crowd, is estimated to have raised approximately $3,000, though the official count is still pending. The improved kitchen will support feeding programs, warming/cooling shelters, shower events, and public use of the building.

The night featured a variety of fundraising activities including sales of mulligans, food, a 50/50 raffle, and team registrations. Seven businesses provided sponsorships of $200, and 14 businesses and individuals contributed cash, food, and supplies. Attendees enjoyed an evening of friendly competition, great food, and community spirit, all orchestrated by the engaging MC, Mike Morin.

Highlights of the Evening

• Best Costume: Pam Bowen dazzled the crowd with her creative attire, winning the best costume award.

• Winning Team: The Cauthon family emerged victorious with an impressive 420 points, while the Fugate team claimed second place with 390 points.

• Participation: A total of 64 players competed in the event, supported by 10 dedicated staff members.

Community Representation

The event drew participants from various towns including Stockton, Osceola, and Appleton City, in addition to a strong turnout from El Dorado Springs. The diverse representation highlighted the Liston Center’s role as a true community hub. “I loved seeing such a great crowd representing diverse groups in the community,” said one attendee. “Everyone was so good-humored and seemed to have such a good time!”

Historical Context

Trivia nights have a special history at the Liston Center. Originally introduced to the community by El Dorado Youth Inc., the group that renovated the old school building and added the gym, trivia nights were a regular feature until 2019. This event marked the first trivia night since then, reigniting a beloved community tradition.

Future Events

This Trivia Night also served as the kickoff for West Central’s Festival of Games, a series of activities across the nine-county region.

Upcoming events include:

• Trivia Night: Folks had such a good time that another trivia event is tentatively planned in August at the Liston Center!

• Poker Run: Planned for September 14, the Poker Run begins at the Cracker Barrel in Belton with additional stops in Adrian and Harrisonville.

• Bingo For a Cause: Scheduled for September 27 in Clinton at the Primitive Olde Crow & Winery.

• Festival Finale: Culminating activities will be held in Warsaw on October 26, featuring games, entertainment, and awards for winners of previous events.

These activities are currently in the planning stages, and further details will be shared as they develop. For more information about upcoming events, send inquiries to info@wcmcaa.org or dvickers@wcmcaa.org.

The organizers expressed deep gratitude to all sponsors, donors, and participants. “We appreciate all the support! The evening was a great success and surpassed our goals” commented Jana Witt, chairman of the event.

The successful Trivia Night at the Liston Center was a testament to the community’s spirit and commitment to supporting valuable resources and programs. The evening was a celebration of collaboration, fun, and a shared vision for a brighter future for all.

First place team – Cauthon family.

Second place team – Fugate Motors.

Costume winner, Pam Bowen (right).

About West Central:

West Central Missouri Community Action Agency has served a nine-county region in west central Missouri since 1965. The organization’s mission, “West Central helps people and communities reach their fullest potential by cultivating and coordinating resources, building partnerships, and advocating for change”, is reflected throughout the Agency’s programs and services. Housing, emergency services, energy conservation, employment and training, transportation, and credit building are provided annually to over 10,500 individuals.

In addition to core services, West Central’s community development corporation, New Growth, supports entrepreneurship and small business development through the New Growth Women’s Business Center, and a business acceleration network, “Start Here”. A new transportation program, New Growth Transit, utilizes a volunteer driver network to provide free rides to individuals for employment, medical appointments, retail shopping, and other needs. West Central’s primary service region includes the counties of Cass, Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, Morgan, St. Clair, and Vernon, with program expansions in Barton, Camden, Dade, Dallas, Howell, Jackson, Polk, and Bourbon and Crawford counties in Kansas. Learn more at https://wcmcaa.org/.