Each year Metro Voice provides a listing of organizations that serve Kansas City’s at-risk families and individuals. Whether it is the single mom and her children, our elderly, the homeless or incarcerated, our readers respond with prayers, time, items and finances to keep these ministries going throughout the year. Below are the organizations that responded to our call for them to share their “Christmas Wish List”. Gods word says in 1 John 3:17: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” Let us all work together to show the love of Christ this Christmas and the coming year. Together, we can make a difference.
ADVICE & AID PREGNANCY CENTER, INC. Amber Lewis, director of client services. Two locations: 11644 W. 75th St., Shawnee, KS 66214; and Foxhill Medical Building, 4601 W. 109th Street, Suite 302, Overland Park, KS. 913-962-0200. www.adviceandaid.com
Advice & Aid Pregnancy Centers serve families facing unplanned pregnancies before and after with Christ like compassion. You can be part of helping one of these families by providing financial support, new infant car seats, new breast pumps, new baby monitors, new pack-n-plays, diapers, gently used maternity clothes, winter infant/baby clothing and non-perishable food items. To volunteer, please email volunteer@adviceandaid.com to learn more.
CARE OF POOR PEOPLE. Richard G. Tripp, 910 Pennsylvania St., KC, MO, 816-721-3291. richardgtripp@yahoo.com. www.coppinc.com.
Our mission is to save lives by providing the materials the poor and homeless of our community need to survive winter’s wrath. Throughout the year and especially during our two main events, we need volunteers, financial donations, clothing donations, hygiene donations, and cooked-food donations. Our two main events are the Survival Events always on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the Spring Break for the Homeless always the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
City Union Mission. Kansas City, MO 64106. 816-474-9380
Men, women and families who call the Hotline are directed to actual shelter housing when available space is known. Do you have items to donate? Contact City Union Mission at the phone number provided above to see if they can use any items you may have to donate.
COLDWATER. Monica Humbard, Executive Director. 501 NE Missouri Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086. 816-786-0758. www.coldwater.me
Coldwater is seeking volunteers and food donations for twice-a-month Friends Day Food Pantry & Clothes Closet. Coldwater accepts financial donations to purchase food and is searching for churches/small groups to help prepare/serve a hot meal on Friends Days. See the Coldwater website for current needed food items and program information.
FAITH IN CHRIST TOILETRY/ FOOD PANTRY. John Jones, Pastor. 101 SW 21st Street, Oak Grove, MO 64075. 816-616-3160. jcjones57@yahoo.com
Our food pantry is open every Thur. and Fri. from 5pm – 7pm. Serving eastern Jackson County and Lafayette County. We are always in need of financial donations and volunteers. Financial donations allow us to get more for your money by buying in bulk.
FEED THE PEOPLE. Jerry Whisler. Director. 816-507-6374, feedthepeople@msn.com. www.feedthepeopleministry.org
The ministry has been going out onto the streets every Saturday for the past 22 years feeding the hurting and homeless right now were averaging between 375-450. We need the following: socks, gloves, scarves, wool knitted hats, chap-stick/lib balm, blankets, toothbrush, toothpaste, cough drops.
Felon Women 4 Change. INC., 107 W 9th Street, 2nd Floor, Kansas City, Missouri, 64105, 816-922-9081. staff.fw4c@gmail.com. Please contact us if in any way you can be of assistance to us in our efforts to help transition women out of prison and into a more stable future.
Whether bound by drugs or institutions, domestic violence, many of the women in the program have first hand knowledge of the struggles that are faced, when in the throws of addiction and unhealthy living. In addition to donation of goods, we are currently seeking board members plus businesses that would be interested in working with us to employ and train women that are seeking employment. Our organization offers a bonding agreement with companies, this ensures that you are not only getting a high quality employee, but also gives you a great foot forward to not focus on the matters of the past!
HELPING HANDS FOOD PANTRY. Shirley-Cornwell, 11220 S. Alley-Jackson, Grain Valley, MO 64029 816-804-3511 dclesson@yahoo.com.
The Helping Hands Food Pantry is a ministry of the Lone Jack Christian Church. It is a community supported, non-sectarian resource for residents of Lone Jack and the immediate area, providing food and some paper goods. We provide holiday boxes between Thanksgiving and Christmas for families identified by the Lone Jack School system. Non-perishable food and financial donations are requested to supply these boxes and to provide for our ongoing needs.
HOPE.WRX FOOD PANTRY. Judy Kelly, Exec. Director. 816-729-2095. Hillside Christian Church, 900 NE Vivion Rd. Kansas City, MO, 64118.
Serving residents of Clay and Platte Counties. We are in need of food donations. Mainly non-perishable but will accept potatoes etc. We also have a school backpack program.
KANSAS CITY RESCUE MISSION. Julie Larocco, chief development Officer, at jlarocco@kcrm.org. 1520 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO. 64108. 816-421-7643. www.kcrm.org.
Our greatest needs are winter wear for men—used and gently used. We also need Christmas gifts. Check website for complete list. We are accepting financial donations and food donations.
THE LIGHT HOUSE. Julie Karanja, Outreach Coordinator & Counselor. PO Box 22553, KCMO 64113. 816-361-2233 x213. juliek.lighthouse@mbch.org www.lighthousekc.org
Join with the LIGHT House in making the seasons bright for young moms who live at our Maternity Home and participate in our Outreach program! Gifts for moms, children and babies are needed. Additionally diapers, wipes and various baby items are needed on an ongoing basis, to support young moms who are choosing life for their babies!
METRO LUTHERAN MINISTRY. 3031 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64109. www.mlmkc.org 816-931-0027
Wish List: Financial support for our ministry and programs; Volunteers for the Christmas store and our many other ministries; Non-perishable sack lunches for hungry students enrolled in our Learning to Earning Program; Small appliances for Christmas store gifts (ie., crock pots, electric skillets, toasters, etc.); King/queen size blankets for Christmas store gifts; Food donations (for the pantry);
MOTHER’S REFUGE. Robert Zornes, 14400 E. 42nd St., Suite 220, Independence, MO 64055. 816-353-8070. Kimberlee@mothersrefuge.org. www.mothersrefuge.org.
Mothers Refuge provides a loving home for homeless, pregnant and parenting teenagers. We are seeking individuals, groups, or families who are interested in adopting one of our residents and her baby for Christmas. These young women have little to no emotional or financial support when they arrive here.
Mt. Carmel Community Outreach Ministries. Kansas City, KS. 913-621-4111
Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing for Family. Do you have items to donate? Contact Mt. Carmel Community Outreach Ministries at the phone number provided above to see if they can use any items you may have to donate.
reStart Inc. Kansas City, MO 64106. (816)472-5664
Emergency Shelter Nights Only. Offering a full range of services for Kansas City’s homeless men, women, youth, and families, reStart provides everything from emergency overnight shelter to transitional living and permanent housing. Equipped to handle all persons, including those with special needs.
THE SALVATION ARMY. 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111. 816-756-1455. www.salarmymokan.org
For 125 years, The Salvation Army’s Red Kettles have represented the love, hope and compassion of the Christmas season. Your donations help change lives in our community! For more information about The Salvation Army, to volunteer or to donate online, go to www.salarmymokan.org.
THE SHEPHERD’S WAY MINISTRIES, INC. Shirley McNeall/executive director/ founder, PO Box 1833, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063. 816-525-2932. theshepherdsway@att.net. www.theshepherdswayministries.org
Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with incarcerated and raising money for future women’s home. Needs: financial donations, property with home and three or more bedrooms in rural area; volunteers, grant writers; volunteers interested in working with women who have been incarcerated.
SISTERS United of Kansas City. Chanae Williams, Community Relations Coordinator (President), 816-388-0013, sistersunitedofkansascity@gmail.com, www.sistersunitedofkansascity.org
We need mentors to build stronger young women which will produce stronger families within the urban core of Kansas City. S.I.S.T.E.R.S. United of Kansas City (SUOKC) will teach young women how to build and maintain healthy relationships through self acceptance by building self esteem and valuing their self worth.
UPLIFT ORGANIZATION, INC. P.O. Box 270175, KCMO 64127. 816-241-0060 www.uplift.org
We serve approximately 600 people per week on the streets of Kansas City. In the winter months we need boots, sleeping bags, blankets and candles. Please consider helping us to continue reaching out to those who have nothing by donating these items or a monetary donation. See other volunteer opportunities for Uplift at www.uplift.org
VINEYARD CHURCH. Carla Beason. 816-734-8100. cbeason@vineyardkcnorth.com. 12300 NW Arrowhead Trfy, Kansas City, MO 64165.
Serving the Northland. Last year over 1,100 people volunteered their time, 6,600 families were fed through the food pantry, 2,200 kids were given back-to-school supplies and Christmas gifts. 2,000 Thanksgiving and Christmas meals were given away to local families. We are in need of volunteers, food and hygiene donations.
By Dwight Widaman
