True North first began in the 1970s when a dedicated group of University of Missouri graduate students formed "The Shelter" to assist survivors of rape. What began as a small volunteer effort quickly grew as women facing intimate partner violence reached out for help. 

 

Today, True North is a comprehensive victim service program that provides survivors with the tools and support they need to heal, regain their strength and rebuild their lives. Every step we take is driven by empathy and the belief that every individual deserves a future filled with safety, dignity and hope. With your help, we can continue empowering individuals and building a community where healthy relationships thrive.

 

Ways to Get Involved

 

Volunteer Your Time

Make a meaningful impact by becoming a volunteer! After completing our required CORE training, you can support our mission in various ways:

 

• Children’s Services: Provide childcare for women staying in our shelter. 

• Hospital Advocacy: Offer on-call support to victims at local hospitals.

• Residential Assistance: Help with crisis hotline support, legal advocacy and administrative tasks.

• Special Projects: Join us for fairs, drives, events or behind-the-scenes administrative work.

 

Donate to Support Survivors

Your generosity directly impacts the lives of survivors and their families. Here’s how your donation can make a difference:

 

Tax Credit Opportunity

Donations of $100 or more may be eligible for a 70% Missouri tax credit

 

• $1,000: Funds one week of 24-hour services.

• $500: Covers one week of shelter for a family.

• $250: Provides groceries for one week.

• $100: Helps with home lock replacements or advocacy center renovations.

 

Spread Awareness

You can be an advocate for survivors by sharing our mission with your network. Host a drive, share our story on social media or organize a fundraiser in your community.

 

Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of survivors and create a safer, healthier future for all. Thank you for being part of our journey. 

 

For more information on donating or volunteering, visit our website. If you are interested in helping facilitate a drive, please contact Sarah Butler at 573.875.0503 or sbutler@truenorthofcolumbia.org for more information.

I became a client at True North during my freshman year of college after my boyfriend sexually assaulted me. My SANE nurse connected me with a True North case manager who eased my fears about contacting law enforcement. I was "legally" an adult, but had only been away from home for 8 months and had no idea how to handle something so "grown up." But True North did. After taking a few years to practice healthy strategies, I began working at True North to give back to the place that gave me so much, and my advocacy passion grew. 

 

Fast forward to today, I was recently crowned Miss Missouri Volunteer and will have the opportunity to travel the state sharing my story to advocate for the improvement of Domestic Violence legislation. Attached is one of the body writing images I use to do so. Additionally, this fall I was accepted into the University of Missouri School of Law where I will focus in Domestic Violence law.

 

My favorite cheesy quote is, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Looking back on how different my life would have been if someone didn’t care "a whole awful lot" is scary. Domestic Violence is a cycle and unless something intercepts it, it will continue. For me, True North was that interception and I could never thank you all enough