It’s the season of giving, and while these organizations are there all year ‘round, you might be looking at ways you can give back during the holidays. While there are plenty of organizations that could use your help, we picked a few right in our backyard, most of them based right here in the Northland, so you can give where you live. Whether you prefer to donate objects or money or time, any of these local organizations would be appreciative of your help this season.
A Turning Point
This non-profit, based in Gladstone, has been serving the Northland since 2017 as a food pantry and wardrobe. Their goal is to provide families with basic needs and educate them to equip them to become self-sufficient. They also offer the A Turning Point Academy to provide adults the opportunity to earn their high school diploma. Additionally, they host a weekly community meal at Chaumiere Park near Chouteau, which they serve picnic style. If you’d like to volunteer for A Turning Point, in addition to monetary donations, they accept donations to their food pantry and wardrobe. They also need volunteers to work and organize the food pantry, wardrobe and community meals, as well as volunteers who can tutor and mentor at their academy, and people who can provide maintenance to their facilities.
Amesthyst Place
The Amesthyst Place offers long-term housing to women and children recovering from generational poverty, substance use and trauma. The beauty of this organization is that it offers a no-pressure solution to women getting back on their feet — providing them a place to live with no timeline on moving out. While Amesthyst Place isn’t located in the Northland, it does serve Northland families, and they just opened a 32-unit campus so they can help more families. If you’d like to help Amesthyst Place, they need volunteers who can offer childcare and also people who can help women with the moving process and setting up their new apartments. They also have a wishlist for their “welcome home kits” that includes cleaning and essential household items, and also accept monetary donations.
Boost KC
Formerly the Assistance League, Boost KC works with eight different philanthropic organizations to assist individuals with basic needs, no matter their age. They accept monetary donations and are always looking for volunteers, and you can also help by donating or shopping at their ReSale Shop, located off of North Oak in Gladstone.
The Global Orphan Project
The Global Orphan Project, or GO Project, was started by a Northland family and aims to break the orphan cycle. The organization uses multiple preventative measures to stop children from falling into human trafficking, abuse, addiction or other scenarios. The organization aims to connect families with resources to help them flourish. It unites local churches, organizations and community leaders under a shared mission. You can get involved or donate on their website.
Hillcrest Hope
You may be familiar with some of the Hillcrest thrift stores in the area (you can find them in Platte City, Liberty and Parkville) — but did you know that the thrift stores support a local charity? Hillcrest Hope has been operating for 40 years in the area and its mission is to empower the homeless, under-employed and working poor. They provide transitional housing, financial counseling, education and community support to help people get back on their feet. You can support Hillcrest Hope by donating items or volunteering at one of their thrift stores. They also welcome volunteers who can babysit for parents in the program, provide budget counseling, help with home repairs, offer mentoring, or assist with organizing the food pantry. And of course, monetary donations are always appreciated.
Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation
After losing their infant son to influenza in 2003, the Moise family started Ian’s Rainbow Flu Foundation. The organization hosts free will flu vaccine clinics and offers education about the flu to help prevent the spread of the virus. In addition to their clinics and community engagement, Ian’s foundation also hosts a walk every fall in Parkville to raise money for the organization.
Kansas City Pet Project
The Kansas City Pet Project has an adoption center at Zona Rosa, where you can find your future furry family member. However, there are many ways to give back to local animals in need if you aren’t able to bring one home. You can choose to volunteer your time at the shelter, or one of KCPP’s events, or you can donate money or even items — the organization has a running list of needed items on their website. Lastly, if you aren’t able to bring home a pet permanently, you can always foster an animal until it finds its perfect home.
KCMO Angels
This foundation provides assistance to foster families and children in foster care. Their mission is to change the statistics affecting youth in foster care who experience homelessness, unemployment and incarceration. KCMO Angels can use help with monetary donations, but also intentional giving with their “love box” program, as well as those who can mentor the youth to encourage them to develop skills, passions and achieve goals.
LevelUp Kids
LevelUp Kids provides dental and vision care to children in Clay and Platte counties through their Miles of Smiles and ICare4Kids programs. They work with local schools to set up screenings and use their portable equipment and supplies to set up offices at schools to provide care to kids. As well a monetary donations, you can host a supply drive or volunteer your time sorting dental supplies. They also need volunteers to assist in vision screenings, for which they provide training.
Liberty Community Christmas Tree
libertymissouri.gov/1466/Liberty-Community-Christmas-Tree
If you’re looking to help provide a memorable Christmas to those in need this year, the Liberty Community Christmas Tree lends assistance to local families and adults. You can help by sponsoring a family by shopping for gifts for Christmas, delivering food to households without children, donating to their food drive or offering assistance with sorting during the food drive, or offering monetary donations.
Liberty Meals on Wheels
libertymissouri.gov/1528/Meals-on-Wheels
In addition to providing nutritious meals to senior citizens, Meals on Wheels offers a familiar face and friendly safety checks. They also provide assistance to the furry friends of Meals on Wheels recipients by partnering with the Liberty Animal Shelter. The organization needs regular drivers who can commit to delivering meals once a week, as well as substitute drivers. They also have other ways to help, such as being a phone buddy to a senior citizen, or offering seasonal yard clean-up, from snow removal to leaf raking.
Synergy Services
This organization offers an immediate respite to those affected by violence, whether they are runaway teens or women and children experiencing domestic violence. They have many events that benefit their charity, such as the trivia event Quiz for a Cause, the comedy night Stand Up For Synergy and the youth art show Art Soup. Those looking to help can donate on their website, shop their Amazon wish lists, or volunteer time by planning a fun event at the shelter, providing childcare, offering landscaping maintenance or even cooking a meal for the shelter.
Valor Ranch
This Smithville organization offers transition housing to homeless veterans. Their housing is set on 14 bucolic acres in Smithville, offering a respite to those who need help re-entering civilian life with success. You can donate money or host a fundraising event, or offer to volunteer at the ranch.
Value Unconditional
Value Unconditional offers free restorative services to help local adults heal from sexual violence and childhood trauma. The organization seeks volunteers who can help with victim advocacy, fundraising event organization or even simply those willing to join their prayer team. You can donate monetarily or even attend their Friendsgiving Dinner on November 20 in Overland Park.
Have a local organization, charity or non-profit that you’re especially passionate about that we left off of this list? Please let us know by reaching out to us on our social media, or emailing the editor, Katie, at katie.currid@citylifestyle.com