Nonprofit partners help south KC students

By Heather Wimmer

About 15 south Kansas City nonprofits, churches and businesses united on Sunday, August 21, to give essential items to families in the Hickman Mills School District who were headed back to school. The event was the annual Because We Care Back to School Community Give Away. It is estimated that more than $30,000 of goods and services were given away.

Volunteers from IHOP, Bethel Community Worship Center, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Heaven Sent Ministries and Grace Point Baptist Church gave out deodorant, diapers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, toilet paper and other hygiene items to approximately 400 families at Ruskin High School as cars pulled through the circle drive. 

The KCPD South Patrol co-sponsored the event with Hickman Mills Community Empowerment Center, and also had officers on hand to greet patrons as they picked up supplies. New clothes and fresh haircuts were also given away at nearby churches. For video and more information about the event see https://www.hickmanmillscec.org/upcoming-events.

Hickman Mills Community Empowerment Center (hickmanmillscec.org) has hosted several giveaway events per year in the past few years by gathering donations from many churches and organizations. This year, the back to school event is being co-sponsored by Bethel Family Worship Center, KCPD South Patrol, the Concerned Clergy Coalition, Classic Transformations Barber, LM2 Construction and Consulting, International House of Prayer, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Grace Point Baptist Church, Caring for Kids in Kansas City, Hickman Mills Community Alliance, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Literacy KC, Christian Charity Church, Happy Bottoms, and St. Joseph Medical Center.