Diaper Bank of the Ozarks

Our organization was founded in 1969 as the Springfield Area Council of Churches. Rev. Dr. Dorsey Levell, along with other community leaders and pastors from thirteen churches, had a vision of Christian love and fellowship expressed through service to our community’s most vulnerable members.

This group recognized that by collaborating, churches could have a much greater impact than any one church alone. The Crosslines food pantry was the Council’s first official program. It is still the largest food pantry in the area.

After twenty-one years of operation as the SACC, it was decided to change the name to encompass a broader area of the community.
SACC was renamed the Council of Churches of the Ozarks after the board approved a new name in 1990. (CCO).

The Council had outgrown its home at Drury Stone Chapel just a few years after changing its name and was looking for a new one.

The Council relocated to its current location on North Glenstone in 1994. When Rev. Dr. Dorsey Levell retired in 1998, the board of directors decided to rename the main building The Dorsey E. Levell Ministry Center.

Dorsey completed his mission on Earth in 2020, and while we mourn his passing, we celebrate his life and legacy. The Council of Churches was founded by Rev. Dr. Levell and continues to express God’s love.

The Council continues to bring together many churches, individuals, and community partners in the pursuit of bettering the lives of neighbors in the Ozarks.

Our community is strengthened and resilient as a result of the combined impact of more than 70 Member Churches and over 6,000 active supporters. We have passionately championed hope by providing services that go far beyond hunger, such as shelter, education, advocacy, and much more.