South KC Chamber awards community organizations

By John Sharp

Several businesses and nonprofit organizations received community impact awards for their positive impact on the south Kansas City area at the 94^th annual dinner of the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce on March 6 at the Armacost Car Museum.

Big Community Impact Award

The Big Community Impact Award chosen by a public vote with over 1,500 responses was presented to the St. Joseph Medical Center Graduate Medical Education Residency Program designed to help remedy the area shortage of primary care and internal medicine doctors by providing opportunities in south Kansas City for graduate medical education.

The three-year residency program at the 310-bed hospital is beginning with 13 internal medicine residents added per year.  The program will include hands-on training and patient-centered care.

Health Care Community Impact Award

The Chamber’s other Health Care Community Impact Award was presented to Loving Arms Adult Day Care which opened in the Martin City area 14 years ago to provide day care for the aged and other adults who would be unsafe if they were left alone at home but do not require 24-hour care in a nursing home.

Corporate Citizen Community Impact Award

The Corporate Citizen Community Impact Award was given to A. L. Huber Construction Company for its longtime commitment to giving back to the south Kansas City area community as exemplified by the company’s ongoing partnership with the Center Academy for Success in the Center School District.  The company provides mentorships to students, supplies to enhance students’ learning opportunities and food for special occasions.

Economic Development Community Impact Awards

An Economic Development Community Impact Award was presented to the recently opened Farm Fresh Market which took over a grocery store location in the Red Bridge Shopping Center that closed in January 2023 that has been totally renovated from floor to ceiling and now offers a full line of grocery products featuring high quality fresh meats and produce at affordable prices.

Another Economic Development Impact Award was given to Rosehill Gardens for opening a winery at its retail Martin City Garden Center that is drawing many visitors to the south Kansas City area to enjoy its wines, weekly educational wine-tastings and entertainment.

Nonprofit Community Impact Award

The Catholic Charities Serve & Lift Center that recently opened on Longview Road in the Hickman Mills area to provide emergency assistance such as food and personal hygiene items to needy area families as well as assistance with their long-term needs such as finding employment received the Chamber’s Nonprofit Community Impact Award.

Sustainability Community Impact Award

Bridging The Gap, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental education and organizes direct services to the community by hundreds of volunteers for a wide range of projects to improve the local environment received the Chamber’s Sustainability Community Impact Award.

Small Business Community Impact Award

Sidelines Custom Floral Designs which provides creative floral arrangements for special events and day-to-day use and has developed a nationwide clientele including celebrities and high profile events received the Chamber’s Small Business Community Impact Award.

First Responder Community Impact Award

The Kansas City Police Department’s South Patrol Division now headed by Major Kari Thompson and South Patrol Community Interaction Officer Mary McCall who attends numerous neighborhood meetings and organizes community events at the South Patrol Campus to inform area residents and businesses of emerging crime trends they should be aware of and measures they can take to improve their safety received the Chamber’s First Responder Community Impact Award.

Founded in 1931, the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization representing businesses south of 75th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more at southkcchamber.com.