This Christmas season several area ministries that serve the homeless are in the middle of fundraising campaigns that ensure their survival for the following year. Metro Voice has chosen three charities to highlight and we encourage readers to consider them in your year-end giving. If you live outside the Kansas City area, there is sure to be a similar organization serving your community’s poor. This is the busiest time of year for all of these groups and they desperately need our help.
City Union Mission’s Celebrate Hope: Reach Out to K.C.’s Poor or Homeless
Kansas City area charities are in the holiday spirit as they seek Christmas donations and deductible contributions through year-end and beyond to bring hope and provide food, clothing, shelter and restorative services to the homeless.
City Union Mission is an evangelical Christian ministry committed to sharing the Gospel and meeting the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of men, women and children who are poor or homeless.
“I’m trusting God will provide through the compassion and kindness of generous friends in our community to ensure all our hurting neighbors receive the care they need.” – Dan Doty, Executive Director, City Union Mission
They are in their Celebrate Hope: Reach Out to K.C.’s Poor or Homeless campaign through which they are seeking to raise $6 million by January 31st.
Laurie Grant, Media Coordinator for City Union Mission, tells the Metro Voice that they have raised $3,486,890 or 58.1% of their goal with $2,513,110 remaining to meet their $6 million goal.
“Every day, we welcome as many as 400 men, women and children in need of food, shelter and other life essentials,” said City Union Mission Executive Director Dan Doty. “The generosity of our Kansas City community enables this vital ministry – providing nourishing meals for the hungry, warm beds for the weary, and faith-based counseling and guidance that offer healing for the hurting through the love of Christ.”
“City Union Mission accepts no funding that would compromise the principles of our biblical outreach,” Grant said. “Our mission relies even more on the support of individuals, churches, businesses and foundations to make the critical services we provide possible.”
To make a tax-deductible contribution to City Union Mission, go to cityunionmission.org/donation-page/
KCRM Needs Immediate Donations for a Commercial Washer and Community for Hope Partners
KCRM (Kansas City Rescue Mission) is another outstanding Christian-based non-profit serving the homeless in Kansas City since 1950.
Julie Larocco, Director of Development for KCRM, told the Metro Voice they have a critical Christmas and year-end need for tax-deductible donations, especially to replace a commercial washer and dryer for washing sheets and blankets for the hundreds of homeless they serve daily. She said they cost $12,000 to $15,000 a set.
She explained that their commercial washer went out and it will cost $8,000 to replace it. “That is one of our most immediate needs,” Larocco said. “With the election year and tax reform, cash and year-end gifts are especially important,” she added.
In addition to critically needed one-time and year-end gifts, Larocco serves KCRM’s financial partners with planned giving and tax-savings opportunities through their Community for Hope© initiative. For more information on KCRM and to contribute, go to their website at kcrm.org or call Julie Larocco at (816) 421-7643, ext. 141.
Catholic Charities Serves the Homeless and Provides an Array of Services to the Poor and Needy
Catholic Charities of Kansas City and St. Joseph is also engaged serving the homeless or those facing possible homelessness through their Neighborhoods of Hope Community Housing Program. Catholic Charities of KC/St. Joseph− one of the area’s most established and respected charities−also provides an array of service, including emergency assistance and support, health, education, Veterans services and assistance for seniors and persons with disabilities.
To learn more and donate to Catholic Charities, go to catholiccharities-kcsj.org/.