LOGO

About Us

Our Mission

Is to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking through advocacy, counseling, and shelter services in a space designed for healing and hope.

Vision

The Rape & Abuse Crisis Service will be the premier resource for Central Missouri affecting community change in response to interpersonal violence so that all women, men, and children are able to live free and without fear in communities that support and strengthen safety and justice for all.

Our History

RACS was founded in 1980 by volunteers who saw the need for survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual assault. These innovative women started a 24/7 hotline. RACS became a certified nonprofit in 1981. In 1982 RACS opened the first DV shelter and became a United Way partner Agency. A Volunteer Coordinator was hired as the first paid staff member. Leila Reynolds became RACS’s first Executive Director in 1983. RACS purchased the first building in 1984 to act as the first RACS shelter. In 1997, RACS raised in excess of $1.5 million ($550,000 from Mo Dept. of Public Safety), for the construction of a new shelter to house 40 clients.

The shelter was completed in 1999, the shelter has 9 suites, which can house a total of 42 guests. RACS is currently in its 42nd year of serving survivors in Mid-Missouri. RACS continues to improve the services being provided, free of charge to residents and clients. In 2020, Angela Hirsch joined the RACS team as the current Executive Director.

Our Impact

Our Strategic Plan

The RACS strategic plan is a 4-year plan, and was implemented in 2021 and runs until 2025. The plan’s purpose is to help the organization continue to grow and provide more success stories of healing and hope. The next four years will bring new programs for survivors, raise awareness, new funding opportunities, build partnerships, and RACS will become more established in its eight outer counties.

RACS Team

RACS Board of Directors

Amanda Grellner

Chair

Chair, Executive Committee

Zakiya Brown

Vice Chair

Executive Committee,

Chair, Planning & Oversight Committee

Kelly Twyman

Treasurer

Executive Committee,

Chair, Finance Committee

Laura F. St. Clair

Secretary

Executive Committee,

Awareness Committee

Emily Fretwell

Immediate Past Chair

 Ex Officio

Executive Commitee

Angel Geiser

Member

Chair, Nominating/Personnel Committee

Kaitlin Mallow

Member

Chair, Fundraising Committee, Awareness Committee

Amy Sprenger

Member

Chair, Awareness Committee

Randy Werner

Member

Chair, Building Committee

Paul Cordia

Member

Executive Committee, Nominating/Personnel Committee

Jennifer Davis

Member

Building Committee

Lindsey Evers

Member

Finance Committee

Kelli Kemna

Member

Planning & Oversight Committee

Jessica Klebba

Member

Finance Committee

Mindy Kremer

Member

Finance Committee

Janel R. Luck

Member

Finance Committee

Cathy Luebbert

Member

Awareness Committee

Stu Murphy

Member

Planning & Oversight Committee

Zach Paul

Member

Building Committee

Martin Reid

Member

Planning & Oversight Committee

Caroline Ward

Member

Planning & Oversight Committee

Deborah Word

Member

Planning & Oversight Committee, Nominating/Personnel Committee

Sheriff John Wheeler

Ex Officio

Building Committee

Dective John Lehman

Ex Officio