Check out our February newsletter!
February 2026
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SPREAD WARMTH THIS FEBRUARY Acts of Kindness That Change Lives Across Missouri
Kindness doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s a warm meal, a safe place to land, a helping hand in a moment of crisis, or even a few donated hours that lighten someone’s load. February is Random Acts of Kindness Month, which gives us all a chance to pause, look around, and ask ourselves one simple question: How can I make life a little brighter for someone else this winter? Across Missouri, countless organizations are doing this work every single day, and shining a spotlight on them feels like an inspiring way to move forward in 2026. Harvesters – The Community Food Network Harvesters.org Hunger affects people in every corner of Missouri, from rural towns to urban neighborhoods. Harvesters distributes millions of meals every year through school programs, community pantries, and mobile food distributions. They also provide nutrition education to help families make healthier choices. You can support Harvesters by donating food or money, or by volunteering at one of their distribution centers. Every hour spent sorting groceries or serving meals directly helps neighbors in need. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to make a contribution, visit their website.
goes beyond the shelter, helping families keep pets safe and providing education about responsible pet ownership. Volunteers can help care for animals, assist with adoptions, or support administrative needs. Monetary donations and wish list items also make a big difference. Explore ways to help at KC Pet Project’s website, and consider fostering an animal to make a lasting impact. Developmental Center of the Ozarks DCOOnline.com The Developmental Center of the Ozarks (DCO) empowers people with developmental or physical disabilities to lead full, productive lives. Their programs include therapies, education, and community engagement for children and adults. Volunteer opportunities range from assisting in early childhood classrooms to supporting adult education programs or helping at fundraising events like the annual Turkey Trot or Wine & Whiskey Walk. Donations, large or small, also help DCO provide critical services. Learn more about getting involved on their website.
American Red Cross in Missouri RedCross.org/local/missouri.html
The American Red Cross provides disaster relief, collects lifesaving blood, and educates communities in emergency preparedness. In Missouri alone, Red Cross volunteers respond to house fires, floods, and severe weather events daily, ensuring families have food, shelter, and support when they need it most. You can help by donating blood, volunteering at a local chapter, or participating in disaster response training. To find opportunities near you, check the Red Cross website for locations and schedules. United Way of Central Missouri UnitedWayCEMO.org United Way partners with nonprofits to address community needs, including hunger, housing, education, and health care.
KC Pet Project KCPetProject.org
KC Pet Project provides care and shelter for thousands of animals across the Kansas City area, offering adoption services, foster programs, and community pet support. Their mission REFERRALS WELCOME Thank you for referring clients to us over the years. You will never be
embarrassed by a referral to our office. We’re always available to lend a helping hand to anyone with any legal need. Just give us a call at (314) 961-5678 or visit us at BeckLawMO.com .
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DIGITAL DECEPTION Secrets of the Internet’s Sneakiest Scams
The internet has become deeply intertwined with our lives, enabling us to reconnect with old friends, stay informed about the latest news, and explore new ideas. However, with the good comes the bad. Scammers have been developing new strategies to take our money, and if you’re not careful, you could become a victim. Here are three internet-enabled scams you should be aware of. Unfamiliar Emails We get emails every day, and most come from unfamiliar senders. These emails rarely contain relevant or beneficial information, but they often carry potential harm. Don’t click on links or attachments within these communications unless you expect
them. Scammers can even spoof friends’ or family members’ emails, so it’s always good to be cautious. Scam Calls Your phone number is public information, and scammers use that to their advantage. They often call seniors, claiming to be someone from their bank, cellphone provider, or another company with which they have an account. They ask for sensitive information shortly after the call begins. Never give it to them. The real organizations rarely call, and if they do, they will not ask for sensitive information. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the supposed organization directly to verify its authenticity.
Shared Networks When you enter a business, you may feel compelled to join its public Wi- Fi. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this practice, you do not want to use public Wi-Fi to log into and view your bank account, medical information, or social media accounts. Scammers wait on public networks to intercept passwords. Shared networks are not as safe as they may appear.
The Cure for Burnout Isn’t Always a Vacation
We live in a hustle culture, where we’re encouraged to push ourselves to our limits: accomplish everything at work, get the kids ready for school and extracurricular activities, and take care of all of our other needs and responsibilities. These unending demands inevitably lead to burnout, which causes us to feel like we need a vacation. But wouldn’t it be nice if you enjoyed your life so much that you didn’t need to escape? Adjusting your habits, routine, and schedule can make this possible. It starts with your workday.
For many Americans, work is the greatest source of stress and burnout in their lives, but it doesn’t have to be. You can change that by adding practices that make your workday more enjoyable. Depending on what your workplace allows, you might try things like taking regular breaks, listening to music you enjoy, walking throughout the day, and putting work out of your mind when you leave for the day. When we get caught up in the chaos of everyday life, we often lose sight of what truly matters. Staying present in the moment and focusing on all the good things in life can help turn any sour experience into something sweet. Focus on all your blessings, from your home to your loved ones. Lastly, be sure to practice self-care and make time for the things you enjoy. Spend time with the people you love, participate in your favorite hobbies and activities, take a nature walk, and add elements to your home that inspire happiness. If you feel like it’s time for a vacation, you may need more than just a change of scenery!
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If you’ve ever lived through or seen the aftermath of a flood, you know how destructive they can be. Within moments, the rush of water can uproot and displace buildings, trees, and vehicles, making the situation incredibly dangerous for everyone in the area. Now, imagine if the flood consisted of a thicker, stickier substance than water. If you don’t have a strong imagination, don’t worry. This situation actually happened on Jan. 15, 1919. On that fateful morning, a massive steel holding tank filled with molasses stood on Commercial Street in Boston. The U.S. Industrial Alcohol Company built the tank during World War I, and many believed the construction was haphazardly rushed. It was common for those living and commuting on Commercial Street to hear the tank groan and creek. Around 12:40 p.m., the tank ruptured, releasing over 2 million gallons of molasses into the surrounding area. The molasses instantly swallowed up three young children who were by the fractured tank. One suffocated, another died after being struck by a railroad car, and the third suffered severe injuries from hitting a light post. Another local awoke to his house crumbling around him, causing him to scramble to his bed frame to stay afloat. Police officers, firefighters, and even sailors from the USS Nantucket responded to the event almost immediately. They freed some survivors, but it took days to uncover the extent of the damage. Twenty-one people lost their lives, while another 150 suffered injuries. The victims and their families sued United States Industrial Alcohol, which had to pay $628,000 in damages, only $8 million in today’s money. THE DAY BOSTON DROWNED IN MOLASSES A Sticky Situation
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Their volunteer platform makes it simple to find opportunities that match your interests, whether it’s mentoring youth, supporting seniors, or assisting families in crisis. Donations and volunteer hours, no matter how small, help create real change across the region. Visit United Way of Central Missouri online to learn how to get involved and make a difference in your community. Random Acts of Kindness Month is a reminder that even small efforts can create meaningful change. Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply spread awareness, your involvement helps strengthen communities across Missouri. Explore these organizations, find a cause that speaks to you, and make kindness a part of your February, and hopefully beyond. -Paul Beck
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
• 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar • 2 large eggs Ingredients
• 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy!
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Brighten Winter Days and Support Charities That Matter
1
Protect Yourself in the Digital Age
2
Design a Life You Don’t Need a Break From
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
3
A City Submerged in Sweetness
The Reason Behind Fashion’s Most Infuriating Design Flaw
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WHERE ARE THE POCKETS?
A CLOTHING MYSTERY CENTURIES IN THE MAKING
Some design choices for clothing can leave you scratching your head, wondering why certain decisions were made. You’ve probably noticed that many pieces of women’s wear do not have pockets, and when they do, they’re considerably smaller than those in men’s clothing. Let’s dive deeper into how this came to be. Where are the pockets? To understand the dilemma with pockets in women’s clothing, one must go back to the late 1600s. At that time, women’s fashion consisted of long, bulky, flowing dresses. They had no built-in pockets, so women wore belts with attached pockets under their skirts that remained invisible to passersby.
period in the 18th century when large pockets were sewn directly into women’s clothing, but that trend didn’t last long. Eventually, someone (probably a man) determined that pockets ruined the female silhouette, and they effectively disappeared from women’s garments. To the dismay of many women nationwide, big pockets (or any pockets) have remained incredibly rare on women’s clothing. What about the tiny pocket?
Men’s and women’s jeans both commonly have a small pocket within one of the front pockets. While you may keep spare change in it or a golf tee when out on the course, you may have wondered what the initial purpose was. When Levi Strauss & Co. first designed their iconic denim pants in the 1870s, they intentionally added an extra pocket to accommodate pocket watches. Even as pocket watches faded into obscurity, the pocket remained.
As fashion evolved and purses became popular, the need for discreet storage waned, and dresses became smaller. There was a brief
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